Highlights of Mill Boy
Built in 1857 at Brownsville Pennsylvania as a horse powered 86 ton barge with side paddle wheel. It was one of 49 barges built in the area during 1852 and 1857. In 1860 Captain Josiah Cornwall refits the boat. It is converted to steam power, changed to a sternwheeler and decks were added. He made regular runs on The Ohio River. After the attack at Commerce the Mill Boy was armed with a cannon.
Mill Boy was the Transport in the burning of Hopefield Arkansas. She was grinding corn for forage on White River when a violent gale struck and the anchor cable snapped, drifted struck a snag capsized. Score it sank on January 31 in the White River 9 miles from Jacksonport. The cannon and a few supplies were removed.
Maps up until 1920’s had location marked as “Millboy Shoals”. Last known Army Corps of Engineers status as: “Swept away by River/no longer in Channel”. I was informed recently that channel has shifted back and the channel was cutting thru a large sandbar in the general area of last known location.