Captain Horace B. Field, Artillery Officer, Lost at Sea

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33294188/horace-b-field

Some years ago I went to St. Andrews Cemetery to get some photos for findagrave and saw this grave. Losing an artillery officer at sea on Christmas Eve seems a bit odd to me so I did some research. Capt. Field was a West Point graduate from New Berlin, NY. His father, Peleg Field, was a blacksmith. His father's shop was moved to the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown. It is still used by the blacksmiths there.

The wreck of the Steamship San Francisco on her maiden voyage was frightful and interesting.

Read more about it in the links below or get a book about it -

The wreck of the steamer San Francisco: The loss of the steamship during the great Atlantic hurricane of December 1853; being an account of the wreck ... Mystic Seaport Historical Association. [Publication]) Paperback – January 1, 1954
or

The Wreck of the San Francisco: Disaster and Aftermath in the Great Hurricane of December 1853 by John Stewart, published in 2018

another account by a passenger

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_St...

A number of reports about the wreck were recorded.

The following telegraphic despatch was received at the Navy Department yesterday: 'Boston, January 7, 1854: The brig NAPOLEON, Captain Stout, arrived here this morning from Matanzas. Reports December 25th, latitude 38.04, longitude 69.30, fell in with steamship SAN FRANCISCO, Captain Watkins, from New York for San Francisco, in distress - masts and all above decks gone - the sea making a fair breach over her. The captain stated she was making water fast, and requested me to lay by him, which I did. Next morning she was not seen. She drifted fast to eastward. When we spoke there were about two hundred persons on deck. Jno T Smith.'

We understand that the Secretary of the Navy has directed two energetic officers of the navy, Lieutenants Gansevoort and Boggs, to proceed in the ALABAMA (the vessel chartered by the War Department for the purpose of rendering assistance to the SAN FRANCISCO) to afford such aid and advice as their experience and judgment may suggest. The Secretary has also directed the sloop of war DECATUR, now fitting for sea at Boston, to proceed in search, if, in the opinion of the commandant of the yard, she can be of service.

The steamer ALABAMA will leave New York this morning on her mission, in pursuance of the instructions of the Secretary of War.

Since the above was in type, we learn that the Secretary of the Navy has directed the steamer NORTH STAR, at New York, to be chartered, officered, and manned, and sent to the relief of the SAN FRANCISCO.

Boston, January 7: The mate of the NAPOLEON says that the spray, and not the sea, broke over the SAN FRANCISCO; that part of the hurricane-house was standing forward, and the men were cutting it away and throwing it overboard. Smoke was issuing from the galley. The captain of the NAPOLEON thought it safer on the steamer than on his own vessel. The steamer was on the south edge of the gulf stream drifting outward.

Halifax, January 7: The captain of the brig MARIA, of Liverpool, reports, that when he saw the SAN FRANCISCO, the engines were not working, the smoke-pipe was gone, and the heavy gale prevented him for rendering any assistance.

Washington, January 5th: The dreadful news has just been received of the wreck of the magnificent steamer SAN FRANCISCO, which recently left New York for California, with the Third Regiment of the United States Army on board. She was seen in latitude 38 degrees 30 minutes, her decks swept, all her boats lost, and completely disabled. It is feared every soul on board will perish.

Senator Gwim received the intelligence this evening at five o'clock, and immediately applied to the Secretary of the Navy to send a government steamer or vessel of war in search of the wreck, to save possibly, those on board. There is not one government vessel fit for sea in any one of our Atlantic ports. Senator Gwim applied to the Secretary of War, who, to his honor, be it said, promptly authorised the charter of a steamship, to proceed instantly in search of the SAN FRANCISCO.

The Secretary of the Treasury will no doubt dispatch also all available revenue cutters, in any of our ports, on the same errand of humanity and duty. Between seven and eight hundred persons are on board the wreck. The SAN FRANCISCO is supposed to be the finest steamer ever built for the Pacific trade. She had on board three months provisions for the troops, stowed away in her holds. Some faint hope still exists that some of the lives will be saved. [Wilmington Journal, Friday, 13 January 1854]

The barque THREE BELLS, arrived at New York on the 13th, bringing the painful news that the steamer SAN FRANCISCO had foundered at sea, and that two hundred and forty of her passengers were washed overboard. The THREE BELLS brings two hundred and thirty of those on board the steamer; the barque KELLY [or KILBY], of Boston, also has some, and others are on board of the ship ANTARCTIC bound to Liverpool. Among those on board the THREE BELLS, are Major Weyse and Lieut Winder. Others, including Col Gates, Major Merchant, Col Burke, Capt Judd, Lieut Fremont, Lieut Loeser, Lieut Van Voort, and all the ladies, except the unfortunate Mrs S C Winder, and Lieut Chandler are on board the ship ANTARCTIC, bound to Liverpool. All the troops were divided among the three vessels.

It seems that all the spars of the vessel were blown away on the 24th. On the 25th, the piston rod broke, and the engine stopped, leaving the vessel unmanageable. She labored so heavily, that she soon commenced leaking badly, when the soldiers on board were organized into baling gangs. At 9 o'clock on the same day, the sea struck her amidships carrying away both the smoke-stacks, all the upper saloon, staving the quarter-deck through, and washing over a large number of passengers, among them Major Taylor and wife. All who were lost, perished by washing over at this time. On the 27th, spoke the barque KELLY [or KILBY], of Boston, from new York, who lay by her until three o'clock pm on the 29th, taking upwards of one hundred persons on board. At night, the wind increasing, with a squally appearance, the KELLY let go her hawser, and was seen no more. The gale continued throughout the 39th and 31st. On the morning of the 1st inst the THREE BELLS came in sight, and laid by her till the 3d, when her boat came alongside. On the same day, the ship ANTARCTIC, from New York for Liverpool, bore down, and both vessels commenced taking off the passengers, [provisions and water, and by sunset on the 4th, had all on board. The next morning, they took off the crew and officers, Captain Watkins being the last man to leave the SAN FRANCISCO. it is said, that after all had left the, the steamer was scuttled and sunk. Scuttled or not, it seems that she sunk. These seem to be the main facts, thought somewhat confusedly put down in the telegraohic despatches of our Washington and Baltimore exchanges. A telegraphic despatch received by a mercantile firm here on Saturday afternoon, gives nearly the same account. [Wilmington Journal, Friday, 20 January 1854]

Steamer SAN FRANCISCO, Walker master, of the Pacific Mail S. S. Co., new and costing upwards of $300,000, from New York for San Francisco, became disabled during the night of the 24th December 1853, and foundered. Three ships saved a portion of her passengers — the Kilby 100, Three Bells 230, and Antarctic 200; total 530, leaving 170 who perished. They were principally troops en route for the Pacific coast. The steamer was insured for $300,000. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?237954

Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?237954

NY Tribune -- Asks why is it that this new ship could not be steered in a gale, but broached to?

Wreck of the San Francisco. The wreck of the steamer San Francisco, the account of which reached us yesterday, presents one of the most remarkable eases of disaster at sea that we remetiiber to have ever recorded. The melancholy details of the shipwreck will be found in another column. The striking fact in this case is this : Here was a ship of the best construction, extraordinarily well fitted and provided for a long and tempestuous vcyags, on the second day oUt, within one hour from the commencement of the first gale she encountered, in difficulty and within two ZiottrS disabled and lying helpless iri the trough of a heavy ctiii. According to the account which is fvirnished by an officer of thc lost ship, the wind at 6 o'clock on the Cvetiiilg of the disaster had died away. At D P. M. it sprang lijij and at 10 P. M. the ship bfouched tv that is; fell into the trough of the sea. With tho aid of sails and additional steam she Itas relieved from this peri! dud got bdfdtts the wind; but In less than an hSur more, at 11 P. M , she broached to again, and all efforts to regain control of the vessel and extricate her from her dangerous position were uh-availing. The seiis rolled ia Upon her on one baud and on the other, opening her beams, starling her planks and sweeping her decks, till at the eud of two hours more she wasiu a sinking condition ; and notwithstanding steam and pumps were, in full operation, and the troops were organized iuto bailing gangs, the ttater continued steadily to gain upon then! '.Mriiigti the night. The great loss of lift; 0'Cburrr ed on the following morning at about 9 o'clock, when a heavy sea struck the steamer amidships, stfept the.decta and washed overboard more than 150 persons'. It is perfectly apparent that the gale which wrecked the San Francisco and occasioned this lamentable loss of life was no more severe than every sloop that goes around Cape Cod is often called to eniiotiiiter, and a p'ildt-boat or ah every day West Indiaiiian that would not have: weathered it in safety would have been unfit for her business. What is to be explained, therefore, in the casS of thb San Francisco is this broaching ti, which was the p'riniarj and sole cause of the disaster; It is plain that it arose from ofio of twd causes. Either the ship was riot trimmed dr badly modeled. She utiiddnpi steer ilia gate of wind. This is the great fact to which this calamity is attributed. Who is to blame for this, or is any one especially Uulpible? We have now no means of knowing, for we are in possession of no facts or intimations beyond those disclosed in the record. But it is a most remarkable circumstance; if ao suspicions were excited, and no predictions of disaster hazarded, based upon the construction or trim of the ship when she- proceeded to sea. If there was none, it will very much lesson our respect for the opinion of mariners and nautical men in regard to tho conditions requisite to insure the safety of avship at sea. We wait for further explanation ana develop ment, confidently anticipating that there is a story yet to be told in regard to this ill fated steamer, to which as yet, we have no clue. We regard with admiration tlie gallant conduct of Capt u atkins, ot tile lost ves- del, who stood faithfully at his post on board the sinking ship tor thirteen weary days and tights, availing himself of the assistance that chanced to feofe'e in his way, endeavoring to get the vast number of persons under his charge on board one vessel and Mother, under ever? embar rassment arid at evctf hazard, aifiid free zing, piercing gales, and cruet waves. hourly threatening to engulf Lim, himself remaining on, board tho ship whatever the alitrms or the th'featen'ln'gs eff , the hour and being the very last .ni'an fo' leave. It may be said that he did no more than his duty. But it was a most severe duty, no bly, manfully and heroically done. Neither can too much pf ai3g.be award ed to Capt Creighton, of the Three Bells, who landed 230 of the sufferers at this port yesterday.' For sit &aj;s h lay by the crippled and' water-logged vessel, with words of hope and cheer upon his lips, and faithful to. the impulses of a manly i . . . . ' ' ..'if r.i i ' iieart, remameu sieauiasi in uis purpose of fnercy, till all were succored. Some emphatic testimonial is due to such a brave, true and gallant mariner. Y. Iribunc. All 3 at is I : oil er , .. of 1 J ,

This steamer might be similar to the San Francisco before being wrecked, even though it is shown in 1864.