Speaking only of your last sentence, above: In *Mark Twain's Civil War*
(pp. 12-13) I gave reasons for doubting that Clemens returned to Missouri
on the *Nebraska*, a claim which he never made, and which was arrived at by
very dubious means. He said he came back on the *A. T. Lacey,* but that
boat had been destroyed in 1860. We don't know how he got back to Missouri
from New Orleans.

On Sun, Dec 22, 2024 at 11:29 AM Scott Holmes <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> I’m curious about Sam’s time piloting the Alonzo Child. He co-piloted
> with Horace Bixby and William Bowen from September of 1860 to November
> of 1860 when the boat tied up in Cairo because of icy conditions. It
> departed Cairo in January, arriving in St. Louis January 11. Sam is said
> to have served on the Sunshine in the interim. The Sunshine is reported
> to have served between St. Louis and St. Paul but I have found nothing
> to suggest Sam’s going to St. Paul. Also, it appears that Horace Bixby
> was no longer a co-pilot on the Alonzo Child, Sam’s co-pilots are
> unreported. The captain and owners of the Alonzo Child were Confederates
> and Bixby was a Unionists so this is likely a cause for Bixby’s
> disappearance. I recall something about Bixby writing his memoirs but I
> have failed to find a reference. Scharnhorst writes of William Bowen and
> Absalom Grimes joining Sam in St. Louis, after Sam’s escape from New
> Orleans on the Nebraska, and heading for refuge in Hannibal.
>
> --
> /*Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado*/
>
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>