Captain Lincoln
Schooner · United States · Lost 1852 · The Columbia River Bar & Oregon Coast
An Army transport schooner beached itself at Coos Bay in 1852, stranding soldiers who built the survival camp that led to the area's first American settlement.
Become Captain of Record
The Vessel and Her Loss
Captain Lincoln was a U.S. Army transport schooner carrying troops and supplies from San Francisco toward Port Orford in December 1851 to reinforce soldiers fighting the Qua-to-mah band at Battle Rock. Taking on water in winter storms, her captain beached her on the North Spit of Coos Bay on January 3, 1852. All 45 aboard survived and salvaged the cargo, building a camp they called Camp Castaway, where they lived for months with help from local Coos people before being relieved.
Vessel
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Wood
- 150 ft
- 34 ft
- Not established
- Sail, three masts
- Chartered as a U.S. Army transport
Loss
- January 3, 1852
- Storm
- North Spit, Coos Bay, Oregon
- Pacific Ocean / Coos Bay entrance
- San Francisco, California → Port Orford, Oregon (ultimately Fort Steilacoom, Washington)
- Military supplies and food for troops fighting at Battle Rock
- 45
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- Not established
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- 2010
- Not established
Position
- Not established
- Position not established
- North Spit, Coos Bay, Oregon
General area is North Spit of Coos Bay; no precise wreck coordinates are published.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (78/100)
Wreck circumstances, survivors, and founding of Camp Castaway.
CoastView (BLM-affiliated coastal history site)
Vessel dimensions, voyage details, and passenger count.
Historical newspaper references and wreck narrative.
