The ''General McPherson'' was a ship used by the U.S. military as a transport between military installations in the

San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay is a large tidal estuary in the U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the big cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. San Francisco Bay drains water from a ...

area. Named after Union General

James Birdseye McPherson James Birdseye McPherson (November 14, 1828 – July 22, 1864) was a career United States Army officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. McPherson was on the General's staff of Henry Halleck and late ...

, a prominent figure in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. The ship was the main mode of transport to

Alcatraz Island Alcatraz Island () is a small island in San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military pris ...

during its function as a military defense and war camp after the ship was built in 1867. In addition to people is also carried military supplies and water. A time schedule dated 1885 shows that it traveled between San Francisco,

Fort Mason Fort Mason, in San Francisco, California originated as a coastal defense site during the American Civil War. The nucleus of the property was owned by John C. Frémont and disputes over compensation by the United States continued into 1968. In 188 ...

, the

Presidio A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th century, 16th and 18th century, 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Captaincy Genera ...

and

Angel Island Angel Island may refer to: *Angel Island (California), historic site of the United States Immigration Station, Angel Island, and part of Angel Island State Park, in San Francisco Bay, California * Angel Island, Papua New Guinea * ''Angel Island'' (n ...

twice a day and took 20 minutes to travel between

Camp Reynolds Camp Reynolds was a World War II Army Camp from 1942 to 1946. Its original name was Shenango Personnel Replacement Depot (commonly referred to as Camp Shenango). On September 21, 1943 it was renamed Camp Reynolds after PA Civil War hero Major Genera ...

and Washington Street Wharf. The vessel was purchased by the

War Department War Department may refer to: * War Department (United Kingdom) * United States Department of War (1789–1947) See also * War Office, a former department of the British Government * Ministry of defence * Ministry of War * Ministry of Defence * Dep ...

Quartermaster Corps Following is a list of Quartermaster Corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties: * Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army * Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστών ...

on September 1, 1867, for $40,000. It was described as a "steam-propeller" vessel distinguishing its propulsion from the then common side and stern paddle wheel steamers. The Quartermaster steamer was docked at Pier 7, Pacific Street Wharf. It was a small boat, reportedly "not much larger than a tug". The official registry of United States personnel and assets of July 1887 shows the vessel at 104.23 tons (measurement unstated) but gives no other dimensions.Dimensions are indicated by those given for the "new and larger steamer", ''General McDowell'', of steel construction to replace ''General McPherson''. ''General McDowell'' was extreme length, on waterline, and molded beam. Unlike other vessels of the Corps, ''General McPherson'' and a much smaller vessel named ''Dispatch'' are shown as "Serviceable" rather than in good condition. On February 2, 1869, the vessel was badly damaged following an accidental collision with the British ship ''Duke of Edinburgh''. It was repaired and continued activities until 1886. On November 2, 1886, the vessel was disabled by a broken propeller. For years the vessel had been reported as worn out and even unsafe. On June 16, 1885, the commanding general of the Division of the Pacific had warned the Secretary of War of "some great disaster, involving the loss of many lives, may occur with further delay" in replacing the vessel. The replacement, ''General McDowell'',The Quartermaster's report notes this vessel was being built at

Union Iron Works Union Iron Works, located in San Francisco, California, on the southeast waterfront, was a central business within the large industrial zone of Potrero Point, for four decades at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. ...

, San Francisco, at a cost of $56,150. was not delivered on time so that ''General McPherson'' continued in service until delivery of the ''General McDowell'' November 17, 1886. ''General McPherson'' and all property aboard was advertised for sale and subsequently sold on March 31, 1887, to the Williams Diamond & Co., San Francisco for $7,755.

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References

{{Alcatraz Island Alcatraz Island Maritime incidents in February 1869 Ships built in San Francisco Ships of the United States Army 1860s ships Transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area