Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sheridan
- Type: Wood-hulled schooner-barge (originally a sidewheel tug)
- Year Built: 1841
- Builder: Michigan (exact yard unreported)
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage: 219 tons
- Location: Approximately 6 miles above Lexington, Michigan in Lake Huron
- Official Number: None recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Sheridan was originally built as a potent sidewheel tug in 1841, subsequently converted into a robust wooden schooner-barge designed for hauled freight transport, particularly lumber, under tow.
Description
Weighing approximately 219 tons, Sheridan had a hull adapted from her tug origins—likely featuring a stout beam and shallow draft. Repurposed as a barge, she lacked independent propulsion and relied entirely on tow vessels.
History
Active from the early 1840s, she served freight duties across the Great Lakes. On 21 November 1866, during a stormy transit in Lake Huron, Sheridan and her tow-mate Experiment were cast loose. Laden with lumber, both vessels were driven ashore near what is now Lexington, Michigan—Sheridan wrecking in the surf zone while Experiment similarly stranded.
Significant Incidents
- Lost during a storm on 21 November 1866.
- Wrecked ashore while laden with lumber.
- No casualties reported.
Final Disposition
Driven ashore and wrecked; both barges became total losses. The storm-dashed hull of Sheridan likely fragmented by wave action in the surf following grounding.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known rediscovery or formal site survey exists. Wreckage may persist in shallow coastal waters near the grounding site but remains undocumented.
- No hazard buoy or chart marker references this wreck, but remains may pose limited shallow-water navigation risks.
- Limited water depth and shoreline location make it possible for debris to remain accessible or partially exposed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sheridan-1841″ title=”References & Links”]
Sheridan—a former sidewheel tug turned schooner-barge—foundered 21 November 1866 above Lexington, Michigan after breaking tow in a storm. Laden with lumber, she wrecked ashore without casualties. The site likely lies in the surf zone, unlocated and unmarked.
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
- Name: Sheridan (built 1841 as sidewheel tug, later repurposed as wood schooner-barge)
- Official Number: None recorded (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Vessel Type: Wood-hulled schooner-barge (originally a sidewheel tug)
- Built: 1841 in Michigan (exact yard unreported)
- Tonnage: 219 tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date Lost: 21 November 1866 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Location: Approximately 6 miles above Lexington, Michigan in Lake Huron (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Loss Event: Caught in a severe storm; broke from tug’s tow, drifted ashore laden with lumber (npshistory.com)
- Cargo: Lumber
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
Sheridan was originally built as a potent sidewheel tug in 1841, subsequently converted into a robust wooden schooner-barge designed for hauled freight transport, particularly lumber, under tow.
Description
Weighing approximately 219 tons, Sheridan had a hull adapted from her tug origins—likely featuring a stout beam and shallow draft. Repurposed as a barge, she lacked independent propulsion and relied entirely on tow vessels.
History
Active from the early 1840s, she served freight duties across the Great Lakes. On 21 November 1866, during a stormy transit in Lake Huron, Sheridan and her tow-mate Experiment were cast loose. Laden with lumber, both vessels were driven ashore near what is now Lexington, Michigan—Sheridan wrecking in the surf zone while Experiment similarly stranded (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
Driven ashore and wrecked; both barges became total losses. The storm-dashed hull of Sheridan likely fragmented by wave action in the surf following grounding.
Located By & Date Found
No known rediscovery or formal site survey exists. Wreckage may persist in shallow coastal waters near the grounding site but remains undocumented.
Notations & Advisories
- No hazard buoy or chart marker references this wreck, but remains may pose limited shallow-water navigation risks.
- Limited water depth and shoreline location make it possible for debris to remain accessible or partially exposed.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, “E – Sheridan” entry (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
Sheridan—a former sidewheel tug turned schooner-barge—foundered 21 November 1866 above Lexington, Michigan after breaking tow in a storm. Laden with lumber, she wrecked ashore without casualties. The site likely lies in the surf zone, unlocated and unmarked.
sheridan-1841 1866-11-21 21:51:00