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Shipwreck on the Potomac:
Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln's Killer
Shipwreck on the Potomac:
Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln's Killer
with Karen E. Stone
Wednesday, May 27th
7:00PM
The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria
Doors open at 6:30. Light refreshments will be available
$5 for Non-Members / Members Free
Stepping away from RevWar topics this month, AHS will host the author of Shipwreck on the Potomac, Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln's Killer, which discusses a little-remembered tragedy.
It was a calm, moonless night in late April 1865. Robert E. Lee had surrendered. Abraham Lincoln was dead. Assassin John Wilkes Booth and accomplice David Herold, previously hiding in the swamps of Southern Maryland, had crossed the Potomac River to safety. The barge Black Diamond was anchored with the Potomac Flotilla near Blackistone Lighthouse, hoping to prevent that crossing and catch the perpetrators. All onboard were unaware that they were too late. The steamer Massachusetts was running downriver carrying U.S. soldiers back to their regiments. By dawn, the Black Diamond was on the bottom of the river, the Massachusetts was crippled and eighty-seven men were dead. Author Karen E. Stone reveals the story of a heroic pursuit turned tragic.
Karen Stone has been the museum division manager for St. Mary’s County, Maryland, where this event took place, since 2017. She did her undergraduate work at Gettysburg College and obtained her master’s degree at Penn State University. She got her first museum job while still in middle school and has been working in the museum field ever since.
As a Lincoln fan and student of his assassination since childhood Karen was naturally fascinated when she first heard this story with its connection to Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. She was surprised to find it had been overlooked by history, which was enough to get her started on learning more and making sure the world would not forget again. This is the first book for Stone, but she has published many articles and has been a frequent lecturer on U.S., state and local history.
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