The Idahoe, owned by Captain John Newcomb, was a steamboat seized by the Union Army for the purpose of relocating hundreds of Nashville’s prostitutes. Under the orders of Nashville Provost Marshal Lieutenant Colonel George Spalding (1836-1915), the women were destined for Louisville but were promptly turned away. The Idahoe spent a month on the Cumberland River attempting to gain entry for the women aboard but ultimately had no choice but to return to Nashville. At the end of this odyssey, the passengers had incurred significant damage to the vessel. Captain Newcomb was never fully reimbursed by the government for use of his steamboat, which had gained the nickname "The Floating Whorehouse."
The Idahoe
36.16236, -86.77415
Description
The Idahoe, owned by Captain John Newcomb, was a steamboat seized by the Union Army for the purpose of relocating hundreds of Nashville’s prostitutes. Under the orders of Nashville Provost Marshal Lieutenant Colonel George Spalding (1836-1915), the women were destined for Louisville but were promptly turned away. The Idahoe spent a month on the Cumberland River attempting to gain entry for the women aboard but ultimately had no choice but to return to Nashville. At the end of this odyssey, the passengers had incurred significant damage to the vessel. Captain Newcomb was never fully reimbursed by the government for use of his steamboat, which had gained the nickname "The Floating Whorehouse."