Odd Coincidence

[ErnieMac]

San Pedro, the port city of Los Angeles was not an easy port to access during 1863. The larger ocean going steamships would anchor offshore while smaller, shallow draft steamers would convey passengers and cargo from the port to the waiting vessels. On April 27, 1863, the small steamer, Ada Hancock, named for the young daughter of Union Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, was transporting passengers to the SS Senator waiting off the port when its boiler exploded. Early reports indicated a loss of life of about 50 people (other reports indicate 40 dead) from both ships. Among those killed was 18 year old Albert Sidney Johnston, Jr., son and namesake of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston.

 

[damYankee]

I wonder what he was doing in the evil land of Yankees?

 

[mofederal]

Johnston's family was living in California since before the war, when he was commanding the Department of the Pacific. In fact his he and his wife lived with her brother Dr. John S. Griffin. They lived with him until Johnston went South to join the Army. She stayed in Los Angeles after the war and raised her family of five.