George R. Yost Joined the Crew of the U.S.S. CAIRO on January 25, 1862, at the Age of Fourteen.

He was 4’ tall, had grey-blue eyes, sandy hair, and a fair complexion. On the CAIRO’s muster roll he is listed as First Class Boy. George served on the CAIRO during the entire course of her career which, unfortunately, lasted less than one year. On December 12, 1862, the U.S.S. CAIRO became the first man-o-war sunk by a torpedo.

George Yost writes that he was among the last to leave the sinking vessel, and states, “I saved my Journal and part of my clothes” Thanks to the foresight of George Yost, we have today an invaluable source of information about the career of the U.S.S. CAIRO and her crew. The Journal has survived and with it the details of day-to-day activities on board the Civil War Gunboat … told through the words of a fourteen year-old sailor.

From the Civil War Parlor