Kurzbeschreibung
The U.S. Army's worst tragedy up to the date of loss of the S.S. San Francisco (a two mast schooner with sidepaddles). Aboard ship were 500 U.S. Soldiers of the 3rd Artillery Battalion heaed to California via the Horn when it met head on with a Gale force storm near Cape Hatteris. December 23, 1853. The book starts with a romantic novel about the Hero (Major George Taylor) and his new bride as they prepare to depart New York Harbor. He is the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Artillery "A" company. The second, third, and fourth sections of the book contain testimonies of some of the survivors and official reports of the loss found in newspapers of that era as well as govermental records. Extensive bibliography. Illustrations.