Book on Black Diamond Disaster in the Works

Karen Stone, manager of the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, will soon publish a book about the Black Diamond Disaster. This “forgotten” tragedy occurred on the Potomac River near St. Clement’s Island during the American Civil War in the hunt for presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth. The synopsis unveils a tale that few are aware of.

It has always been said that not a single life was lost during the hunt for John Wilkes Booth. This is said with pride, as it should be. If only it were true.

In the 1860s, life on the Potomac River was quite different than it is today. Instead of the calm open waters, the river was the frontline of battle. The Potomac was the main lifeline out of Washington, DC, and for the federal government it was the dividing line between the warring sections of the North and South. For the people of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, just across the Potomac River from Confederate Virginia, it was the source of their livelihood and much of their food; and for some, it became their final resting place.

This is a story of that river, and of the men whose lives were lost in the aftermath of the Civil War, in the hunt for the presidential assassin. This work is for those 87 men and their families, so that they will no longer be forgotten.

Being published by The History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing, the book is expected to be released in 2025.

Reflecting on her journey, Stone said, “I have been fascinated by this story since I first heard about it and was amazed to find it had been overlooked by history. The 87 men who lost their lives deserve to be remembered, so this work is dedicated to them.”

In 2019, Ms. Stone authored “Peril on the Potomac: The Sinking of Black Diamond,” for America’s Civil War magazine and found that there was much more to uncover about this forgotten tragedy. Stone’s resulting, and ongoing research has identified over 20 previously unknown souls lost in the incident.

“I haven’t yet identified all 87 men, but I haven’t given up, and won’t until they are all found,” she said.

Local artist Angela Wathen will design the potential cover art for the book.