The story of the demise of the Belknap has been told over and over for the past 170+ years. We all know how a story will change when repeated many times from person to person. I'm not suggesting we rewrite history...just a few thoughts.
I guess there was probably a story in the local newspaper of the time describing the incident. We all know how even today, the "media" get things wrong because they are not expert in any particular practice...in this case how a steamboat towing a raft of logs will get from one place to another.
A raft of logs is LARGE MASS of weight that barely breaks the surface, and doesn't offer any "windage" to the winds of a squall. There is nothing for the wind to impinge on in the raft. I suggest the raft was essentially a non factor in this story, acting more like a "Sea Anchor" than anything else.
Now you might suggest that the SEAS would have an effect on the raft...dragging it off down wind. I suggest this was also was not the case.
An Aside: There was an idea a few years ago that a raft of logs (retired telephone poles) could be chained together and be used as a "Breakwater" around a marina that otherwise had no protection from wave action. The idea was tried down here in Rhode Island. It worked. Waves would break on to the raft..harmlessly..which was anchored to the bottom, and chained to shore on the other end.
No waves got to the other side of the raft. There was ONE side effect that no one had thought of. Sea weed, barnicles, slime and other stuff started growing on the logs which just broke the surface. The result was a Smell like
Perpetual Low Tide. The people who had boats inside the raft were not happy. On a hot day it was even worse.
Back to the Belknap. On the other hand, the Belknap itself offered plenty of "windage" with it's hull, paddle boxes, cabin and all the superstructure there was..Above the waterline. Certainly not an aerodynamic or streamlined shape presented to the wind.
I suggest the Belknap got broadside to the wind and blown ashore All By Herself. 
NB
LAST thought: When you aren't making
Headway..you don't have steerage.