Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Chickamauga
- Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge
- Year Built: 1898
- Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 322 ft (98.1 m); Beam: 45 ft (13.7 m); Depth of hold: 21.5 ft (6.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 2,472 tons
- Location: Approximately one mile off Harbor Beach, Michigan
- Coordinates: Specific GPS coordinates for the wreck site are unavailable.
- Official Number: 127259
- Original Owners: Mentor Transit Co.
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Chickamauga was a wooden schooner-barge, primarily designed to transport bulk cargoes like iron ore across the Great Lakes. At the time of its launch in 1898, it was the largest schooner-barge on the lakes. Schooner-barges like the Chickamauga were towed by steamers, maximizing cargo capacity while minimizing the need for independent propulsion.
Description
The Chickamauga was built in 1898 by renowned shipbuilder James Davidson in West Bay City, Michigan. Its impressive size and capacity made it a cornerstone of the iron ore trade, crucial to the industrial expansion of the Great Lakes region.
History
Incidents and Operational Highlights
- 1908 Collision: The Chickamauga collided with the steamer Samuel Mitchell in dense fog near Ashland, Wisconsin, causing damage to both vessels. After repairs, it resumed service.
- Final Voyage (1919): On September 12, 1919, the Chickamauga, carrying iron ore, was being towed by the steamer Centurion on Lake Huron. Near Harbor Beach, Michigan, the vessel encountered a severe storm and began taking on water. Despite the crew’s efforts, the Chickamauga foundered just outside the harbor. Fortunately, all 11 crew members were rescued.
Significant Incidents
FINAL DISPOSITION
The wreck of the Chickamauga posed a hazard to navigation, prompting its partial removal by dynamite in 1920. Most of the remains were cleared, but it is believed some wreckage still lies at the site where it sank.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) pertain to the wreck of the Chickamauga. Mariners in the Harbor Beach, Michigan, area should still exercise caution due to the history of shipwrecks in the vicinity.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Chickamauga posed a hazard to navigation, prompting its partial removal by dynamite in 1920. Most of the remains were cleared, but it is believed some wreckage still lies at the site where it sank.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Chickamauga was foundered and partially removed in 1920. Specific GPS coordinates for the wreck site are unavailable. Continued exploration and research may yield more details about the remaining wreckage. Maritime enthusiasts and historians should stay tuned for further developments.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”chickamauga-us-127259″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Chickamauga was a monumental schooner-barge that exemplified the ingenuity of Great Lakes shipbuilding in the late 19th century. Its role in the iron ore trade highlighted the importance of these vessels in the industrial development of the region. The tragic storm in 1919 that led to its sinking, and the subsequent dynamiting of the wreck, serves as a reminder of the risks faced by mariners. Today, the Chickamauga’s story endures as a significant chapter in the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
- Name: Chickamauga
- Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge
- Year Built: 1898
- Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions:
- Length: 98.1 meters (322 feet)
- Beam: 13.7 meters (45 feet)
- Depth: 6.6 meters (21.5 feet)
- Gross Tonnage: 2,472 tons
- Net Tonnage: 2,399 tons
- Official Number: 127259
- Last Registered Port: Owned by Mentor Transit Co.
- Wreck Location: Approximately one mile off Harbor Beach, Michigan, Lake Huron
- Depth: Unknown (dynamited and mostly removed in 1920)
- Current Condition: Foundered and partially removed in 1920
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Chickamauga was a wooden schooner-barge, primarily designed to transport bulk cargoes like iron ore across the Great Lakes. At the time of its launch in 1898, it was the largest schooner-barge on the lakes. Schooner-barges like the Chickamauga were towed by steamers, maximizing cargo capacity while minimizing the need for independent propulsion.
HISTORY
The Chickamauga was built in 1898 by renowned shipbuilder James Davidson in West Bay City, Michigan. Its impressive size and capacity made it a cornerstone of the iron ore trade, crucial to the industrial expansion of the Great Lakes region.
Incidents and Operational Highlights
1908 Collision: The Chickamauga collided with the steamer Samuel Mitchell in dense fog near Ashland, Wisconsin, causing damage to both vessels. After repairs, it resumed service.
Final Voyage (1919): On September 12, 1919, the Chickamauga, carrying iron ore, was being towed by the steamer Centurion on Lake Huron. Near Harbor Beach, Michigan, the vessel encountered a severe storm and began taking on water. Despite the crew’s efforts, the Chickamauga foundered just outside the harbor. Fortunately, all 11 crew members were rescued.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The wreck of the Chickamauga posed a hazard to navigation, prompting its partial removal by dynamite in 1920. Most of the remains were cleared, but it is believed some wreckage still lies at the site where it sank.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) pertain to the wreck of the Chickamauga. Mariners in the Harbor Beach, Michigan, area should still exercise caution due to the history of shipwrecks in the vicinity.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- •Great Lakes Ships Database: Comprehensive vessel information.
- •Bowling Green State University Archives: Historical maritime records.
- •Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Detailed shipwreck history and data.
- 3d Shipwrecks – Chickamauga
3D Model – Chickamauga
CONCLUSION
The Chickamauga was a monumental schooner-barge that exemplified the ingenuity of Great Lakes shipbuilding in the late 19th century. Its role in the iron ore trade highlighted the importance of these vessels in the industrial development of the region. The tragic storm in 1919 that led to its sinking, and the subsequent dynamiting of the wreck, serves as a reminder of the risks faced by mariners. Today, the Chickamauga’s story endures as a significant chapter in the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
KEYWORDS•Chickamauga schooner-barge•Lake Huron shipwreck•Harbor Beach Michigan•Great Lakes maritime history•19th-century schooner•Iron ore transport
GPS COORDINATES & ADDITIONAL INFO
Specific GPS coordinates for the wreck site are unavailable. Continued exploration and research may yield more details about the remaining wreckage. Maritime enthusiasts and historians should stay tuned for further developments.
The CHICKAMAUGA was a schooner-barge that was built in 1898 by James Davidson in West Bay City, Michigan. It had an official number of 127259 and was constructed using wood. The vessel measured approximately 322 feet in length, 45 feet in width, and had a depth of 21.5 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 2,472 tons and a net tonnage of 2,399 tons. chickamauga-us-127259 1919-09-12 07:49:00