Tom Coleman , Saladin 's 24 - year - old captain , was a Taylor family friend who wanted the honor of transporting the president - elect to Vicksburg .
It went unnoticed in the pre-dawn hours that the steamer Saladin had arrived in Ashland Landing before the Tennessee .
Tom Coleman , Saladin 's 24 - year - old captain , was a Taylor family friend who wanted the honor of transporting the president - elect to Vicksburg .
It went unnoticed in the pre-dawn hours that the steamer Saladin had arrived in Ashland Landing before the Tennessee .