PS Alice Dean (1863) facts for kids
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The Alice Dean in 1863
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| Name | Alice Dean |
| Owner | Commodore Thompson Dean |
| Operator | James H. Pepper |
| Port of registry | Cincinnati Sanitation Commission |
| Route | Cincinnati to Memphis |
| Ordered | Commodore Thompson Dean |
| Builder | Sam Hambleton |
| Cost | $60,000 |
| Yard number | Cincinnati Shipyards |
| Laid down | Scuttled July 9, 1863 |
| Launched | 1863 |
| Christened | Alice Dean |
| Completed | March 1863 |
| Maiden voyage | March 1863 |
| In service | 4 months |
| Fate | Burned |
| Notes | This Naval and landbattle has been expurgated from The records of Morgan's Raid |
Quick facts for kids General characteristics |
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| Class and type | Woodenhull sidewheelSanitary Packet steamer |
| Tonnage | 880 |
| Length | 182 feet |
| Decks | 4 |
| Propulsion | Side-wheel |
The PS Alice Dean was a large steamboat, 182 feet long, that could carry 880 tons of cargo. It was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1863. This boat was a "packet steamer," meaning it carried both people and goods on a regular schedule. The Alice Dean traveled between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Memphis, Tennessee. Its captain was James H. Pepper.
Contents
The Alice Dean During the Civil War
The Alice Dean played a role in the American Civil War. In June 1863, it helped the Union Army by carrying soldiers from Memphis to join a big battle. This battle was General Ulysses Grant's attack on Vicksburg.
How the Alice Dean Was Captured
In July 1863, a Confederate general named John Hunt Morgan led his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) on a long raid. They rode through Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. When they reached the Ohio River, they captured the Alice Dean near Brandenburg, Kentucky.
Morgan's raiders had already taken a smaller boat called the John T. McCombs. They used the McCombs as a trick to stop the Alice Dean. Once they had both boats, Morgan's troops used the Alice Dean to cross the Ohio River into Indiana. They landed near Mauckport.
The Fate of the Alice Dean
After using the Alice Dean for their crossing, Morgan's men set the steamboat on fire. The John T. McCombs was not burned. This was because its owner was a friend of Basil W. Duke, who was Morgan's second-in-command.
Later that year, in the fall of 1863, parts of the Alice Dean's machinery were saved from the river. These parts were sold for $4,500. Today, you can see a piece of the Alice Dean on display at the Battle of Corydon battlefield.
Discovering the Wreck of the Alice Dean
For many years, the remains of the Alice Dean lay hidden in the Ohio River.
First Discoveries and Recoveries
In August 1959, a towboat accident caused the Ohio River's water level to drop by five feet. This exposed the hull (the main body) of the Alice Dean. People interested in local history took pieces of the wood as souvenirs.
In 1965, a group called the Heth Civic Club tried to recover more of the ship. They collected money and paid a local contractor to use his crane. They managed to pull several truckloads of wood from the river. There is even a rare video of this effort.
Modern Search and Protection Efforts
In 2014, a local historian named Clarence Merk began a new search for the Alice Dean. He wanted to find its exact location and check its condition. He got permission from the Navy Heritage and History Command Center.
On May 14, 2014, Clarence Merk and his team found the Alice Dean. They used special equipment like side-scan sonar from the IDNR Conservation officers. Divers from the Louisville Metro Police Dive Team also went down to confirm it was the Alice Dean. The sonar images showed that the Alice Dean is still mostly together and lies about 10 meters (33 feet) underwater.
Protecting the Shipwreck
Clarence Merk shared his findings with the US General Services Administration. As a result, the Alice Dean was officially recognized and given a title. On August 15, 2015, the Navy took control of the Alice Dean. It is now protected under a law called the Sunken Military Crafts Act of 1947. This law helps protect important shipwrecks.
In June 2018, Clarence Merk worked with archaeologists from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. They are working to get the Alice Dean listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Clarence Merk also started a project for more research on the Alice Dean. This research will include mapping the wreck and creating 3D images of it. In August 2018, the Department of the Navy approved this non-invasive research. This means they can study the ship without disturbing it.
In 2022, Clarence Merk secured funding for the project from the Salas family. In exchange for their support, the vessel will be renamed the Salas Dean.
Related Events
The capture of the Alice Dean was part of a larger story.
Sherman's Ride
During Morgan's raid, a man named Jacob Sherman took it upon himself to warn others. He rode a horse quickly upriver, like a "Paul Revere," to stop another steamboat called the Grey Eagle. He wanted to prevent it from being captured by Morgan's raiders. Sherman succeeded! The grateful owners of the Grey Eagle gave a bell to the people of Mauckport as a thank you. That bell is still there today.
A New Alice Dean
After the original Alice Dean was destroyed, another steamboat was built to replace it. This second boat was also named Alice Dean and was launched in 1864.
