USS Tennessee, Now SS Republic, Sinks

The SS Republic was lost on her fifth voyage after reverting to a civilian ship.

It left New York on  October 18, 1865, bound for New Orleans.  According to her captain, he was carrying passengers and  a cargo of $400,000 in coins, mostly in gold $10 and $29 pieces, intended for use as hard currency after the Civil War.

The city of New Orleans, captured by the Union early in the war, had become a thriving center of commerce, but  "hard money" as represented by these coins, was in short supply.

On the fifth day of the voyage, a hurricane off the coast of Georgia proved too strong for the Republic.

--Old B-Runner