The Mezo Brothers and the Tragic Voyage of the General Lyon

 The Civil War was nearing its bitter end in March 1865. The Union was on the brink of victory, and weary soldiers across the nation began to dream of returning home. For the Mezo family of Hamilton County, Illinois, that dream was shared by three young men—brothers John Benton Mezo and Thomas Green Mezo, and their cousin Constant Mezo. These men had marched together, fought together, and now, aboard the General Lyon, they hoped to go home together. But the waters off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, would claim not just the General Lyon, but also the lives of these three brave soldiers and hundreds of others in one of the most devastating naval tragedies of the Civil War.

 Answering the Call of Duty

When the Mezo brothers enlisted in the summer of 1862, they joined a growing wave of men leaving their homes and families to fight for the Union. As part of Company C of the 56th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, John Benton Mezo, Thomas Green Mezo, and Constant Mezo were determined to defend their country. The regiment trained at Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois, before heading south to take up the fight.

Their journey led them into some of the war's most grueling campaigns, including the Siege of Vicksburg. For weeks during the summer of 1863, they faced cannon fire, hunger, and disease. Letters from soldiers in similar circumstances, such as Private Newton Robert Scott of the 36th Iowa Infantry, described the grueling reality: “We have been marching and fighting constantly for weeks. Our rations are low, and the men are exhausted, but the spirit of the army is strong.” The Mezos endured the hardships, leaning on each other for strength and survival.

 

A Chance to Go Home

By early 1865, the Mezos and their regiment were stationed in North Carolina as Union forces tightened their grip on Confederate strongholds. After years of fighting, they finally received the news they had longed for: they were being discharged and sent home. On March 29, 1865, they boarded the General Lyon, a side-wheel steamer tasked with transporting discharged soldiers, paroled prisoners of war, and civilian refugees northward.

The General Lyon was packed with over 550 passengers, including 205 men of the 56th Illinois Infantry. Though the steamer had served faithfully throughout the war, ferrying troops and supplies, it was an old vessel, vulnerable to both the elements and mechanical failure. As the ship departed Wilmington, North Carolina, spirits were high. After years of war, the passengers were finally on their way home.

 Disaster Strikes

The calm waters of Wilmington’s harbor gave way to the notorious turbulence of Cape Hatteras. Known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” the area had claimed countless ships over the years. On the morning of March 31, 1865, disaster struck the General Lyon. A fire broke out in the engine room, fueled by the wooden construction of the ship and exacerbated by strong winds. Survivors described flames spreading with terrifying speed, engulfing the decks and cutting off any chance of escape.

Isaiah C. Colby, a member of the 6th Ohio Cavalry, later recounted the chaos: “The fire could not be checked. I tore a door from the galley and threw myself overboard. I was in the water for three hours, as near as I could judge, when the steamer General Sedgwick hove in sight and picked me up.” His testimony highlighted the desperation of those onboard, many of whom were too sick or injured to escape their berths below deck.

Attempts to lower lifeboats ended in tragedy. The first boat, carrying the captain and several crew members, capsized and was destroyed by the ship’s paddle wheels. Other boats were smashed to pieces in the stormy seas. Out of over 550 passengers, only 29 survived. The Mezo brothers were not among them.

 A Community in Mourning

The news of the General Lyon disaster reached Hamilton County, Illinois, in the weeks that followed. Local newspapers carried somber accounts of the tragedy, listing the names of the deceased, including John Benton Mezo, Thomas Green Mezo, and Constant Mezo. The loss of three young men from the same family left a deep wound in the small farming community.

 Families like the Mezos struggled to reconcile their pride in their loved ones’ service with the grief of losing them so close to the end of the war. One Union soldier wrote of a similar loss, “We march on, but we carry the memories of our comrades who did not live to see peace. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.”

 Legacy of the General Lyon

The General Lyon disaster remains one of the deadliest maritime tragedies of the Civil War, claiming nearly 500 lives. Overshadowed by the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and the assassination of President Lincoln, the tragedy was largely forgotten in the broader scope of history. Yet for the families of those aboard, the loss was immeasurable.

 The Mezo brothers’ story serves as a testament to the sacrifices made by so many during the Civil War—not just on the battlefield, but in the perilous journeys home. Their legacy, along with that of their comrades, lives on as a reminder of the personal cost of war.

 Sources

• Chicago Tribune, April 6, 1865, Page 3. Accessed via Newspapers.com.
• New York Daily Herald, April 3, 1865, Page 4. Accessed via Newspapers.com.
• Huddersfield Chronicle and West Yorkshire Advertiser, April 22, 1865, Page 7. Accessed via Newspapers.com.
• Civil War Letters Collection, University of Washington: content.lib.washington.edu.
• Newton Robert Scott’s Letters: civilwarletters.com.
• Images: All images were generated using OpenAI's DALL-E tool

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