We have several researchers who enjoy riverboat work--especially Maggie, but she may be away temporarily, as she has not yet replied to a query addressed to her. I hope my reply will not be taken as intruding on her expertise. Come back soon, Maggie--you are needed.

My source is Frederick Way, Jr.'s 1994 print of the revised edition of "Way's Packet Directory, 1848-1994," which on pages 417-8 describes the "Sam Young" as 154 tons, but I wouldn't know if there is a picture of her. She was 3.7 feet in draft. This stern-wheeler was built in Shousetown, Pennsylvania (which probably qualifies her as an Ohio River vessel) in 1855 and spent the prewar years operating out of Pittsburgh and St. Paul under a variety of owners. She was 156 by 28 feet in length and beam and had three boilers. There is nothing in Way's to indicate her war record, but it says "...in 1861 she was running above Peoria on the Illinois River;" was sold at Cincinnati on 3 February 1865 to run between Memphis and Helena; and that "Sam Young" was "reported lost July 22 1865." In river talk, being "lost" means she wrecked, burned, blew up, or sank, but this text did not give the locaton of her end. A ten-year run wasn't bad for a river steamer of those days, from some of the histories of specific vessels I have seen.

River literature transcended issues of North and South, and stuck to commerce and shipping, as these were not as much works of art or war transport, but means to a rapid return on investments. That's probably why Way's did not trouble to give us her war history. To the public, at least the public along the rivers, each steamer was known by name, and its brief career followed, in similar vein as America would later follow the career of certain noted railroad trains or celebrated passenger ocean liners.

If Grant's army used "Sam Young" on Lake Providence, then she was leased or seized from southen military use and controlled by the Union military's quartermaster department for at least a while.

I am not a boat guy, but I hope this helps answer your questions.

Bruce Nichols