Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Orleans
- Type: Brigantine
- Year Built: 1846
- Builder: Clayton, NY
- Dimensions: 101 ft (30.8 m); 20 ft; 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 173 55/95 tons
- Location: South of Government Pier, Milwaukee, WI
- Original Owners: French Creek (Clayton, NY), later Detroit, MI, and Chicago, IL
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Class: Brigantine (square rig on foremast, fore-and-aft on mainmast)
- Intended Use: Lumber and general cargo trade across Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan
Description
Built at Clayton, NY, in 1846, the Orleans was a two-masted wooden brigantine measuring approximately 101 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth. With a registered old-style tonnage of 173 55/95 tons, she was typical of the mid-19th-century sailing vessels employed in the lumber and timber trade on the Great Lakes.
She was built for versatility and capacity, suited to both coastal and inland lake navigation, and her configuration allowed for effective windward performance and cargo handling.
History
- 1846: Constructed and enrolled at French Creek (Clayton, NY).
- 1847 (Nov 21): Reported ashore near the head of the Detroit River, close to the lighthouse—indicating possible early damage or navigation issues.
- 1852: Re-enrolled at Detroit, MI, indicating a westward shift in operations.
- 1854: Enrolled at Chicago, IL, aligning with the western Lake Michigan lumber trade.
- Throughout the early 1850s, likely active in bulk timber and shingle trade between Lake Huron/Michigan ports and Chicago or Milwaukee.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Wreck: 20 October 1855
- Location: Driven ashore south of the Government Pier, Milwaukee, WI, during a gale.
- Cause: Severe weather – classic autumn gale event on Lake Michigan.
- Fatalities: 3 crew lost from a total complement of 9
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Timber, shingles, and shingle bolts, indicating a typical north-to-south supply run
- Post-Wreck: No records of salvage or recovery suggest a total loss.
Final Disposition
- No known modern location or survey of wreckage. The wreck has not been identified in Wisconsin coastal surveys or diver records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- None listed. No official hazard marking persists for this wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”orleans-1846″ title=”References & Links”]
The Orleans (1846) represents the numerous wooden sailing cargo vessels that serviced the growing timber economy of the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century. Her loss during an October gale underscores the hazardous transitional weather typical of Lake Michigan. Though not prominent in broader shipping annals, her wreck highlights the routine but perilous voyages these small merchant ships undertook.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: ORLEANS
- Year Built: 1846
- Vessel Type: Brigantine
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Enrollment Ports: French Creek (Clayton, NY), later Detroit, MI, and Chicago, IL
- Final Loss Location: South of Government Pier, Milwaukee, WI
- Lake: Michigan
- Date of Loss: 20 October 1855
- Final Cargo: Timber, shingles, shingle bolts
- Crew: 9; Casualties: 3 fatalities
Vessel Type
- Class: Brigantine (square rig on foremast, fore-and-aft on mainmast)
- Intended Use: Lumber and general cargo trade across Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan
Description
Built at Clayton, NY, in 1846, the Orleans was a two-masted wooden brigantine measuring approximately 101 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth. With a registered old-style tonnage of 173 55/95 tons, she was typical of the mid-19th-century sailing vessels employed in the lumber and timber trade on the Great Lakes.
She was built for versatility and capacity, suited to both coastal and inland lake navigation, and her configuration allowed for effective windward performance and cargo handling.
Operational History
- 1846: Constructed and enrolled at French Creek (Clayton, NY).
- 1847 (Nov 21): Reported ashore near the head of the Detroit River, close to the lighthouse—indicating possible early damage or navigation issues.
- 1852: Re-enrolled at Detroit, MI, indicating a westward shift in operations.
- 1854: Enrolled at Chicago, IL, aligning with the western Lake Michigan lumber trade.
- Throughout the early 1850s, likely active in bulk timber and shingle trade between Lake Huron/Michigan ports and Chicago or Milwaukee.
Final Disposition
- Date of Wreck: 20 October 1855
- Location: Driven ashore south of the Government Pier, Milwaukee, WI, during a gale.
- Cause: Severe weather – classic autumn gale event on Lake Michigan.
- Fatalities: 3 crew lost from a total complement of 9
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Timber, shingles, and shingle bolts, indicating a typical north-to-south supply run
- Post-Wreck: No records of salvage or recovery suggest a total loss.
Located By & Date Found
- No known modern location or survey of wreckage. The wreck has not been identified in Wisconsin coastal surveys or diver records.
Notmars & Advisories
- None listed. No official hazard marking persists for this wreck.
Resources & Archival Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Vessels
- Bowling Green State University – Great Lakes Vessel Database
- [Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directories]
- [C. Patrick Labadie Great Lakes Collection – NPS]
- 1855 contemporary newspaper searches for Milwaukee harbor wrecks recommended for corroborating event and casualty list
Conclusion
The Orleans (1846) represents the numerous wooden sailing cargo vessels that serviced the growing timber economy of the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century. Her loss during an October gale underscores the hazardous transitional weather typical of Lake Michigan. Though not prominent in broader shipping annals, her wreck highlights the routine but perilous voyages these small merchant ships undertook.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Region: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, WI
- Type: Wooden Brigantine
- Period: 1840s–1850s
- Cause of Loss: Storm / Gale
- Final Cargo: Timber products
- Dive Status: Not located
- Casualties: Yes (3 crew lost)