Regarding the Lyon tragedy, a good summary on the event was compiled about 10 years ago by Martha Boltz, a reporter for the Washington Times. Her article, a full 2-page summary with some pictures, was printed in the Times on July 21, 2001 and is available for a minimal charge via the Washington Times web site (see the archives section). I assisted Ms. Boltz with the research for her article and believe that it is one of the best descriptions published in recent times on what occurred when the Lyon burned and sank on March 31, 1865.

Four days after the tragedy, a detailed account of the event was reported in the New York Times. However, at that time, the attention of many readers soon became focused upon other headlines, including Appomattox Courthouse and, a few days later, the assassination of President Lincoln. For the next 125 years, the Lyon tragedy remained virtually as an unknown chapter in the written histories of the Civil War. However, the soldiers, the prisoners-of-war, the refugees, the crew members, and the other men, women, and children who perished on that day in late March 1865 should not be forgotten. When the US Army Transport General Lyon burned and sank in a hurricane off Cape Hatteras approximately 600 persons lost their lives. Only 29 survived.

The stories provided by the surviving witnesses indicate that most of the ship burned. Thus, there was basically little or no "shipwreck". The specific location of the burning and sinking is not known. We only know that it was somewhere in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras.

By the way, if you have tried to open my old AOL web site on this subject, which is still listed in Wikipedia, you would have found that it is no longer available, closed by AOL. Hopefully, someday, a new web site can be established dedicated specifically to this subject. Such a website could contain related links, a forum for questions and comments, illustrations, witness accounts, etc.