Loss of the Sultana

In April 1865, as the nation was reeling from the aftermath of the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln, a tragic maritime disaster struck. The steamship Sultana departed from New Orleans on April 21st, making its way to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where it took on nearly 2,000 federal soldiers—recently freed from the brutal prison camps of Cahaba and Andersonville—eager to return home. By the time the Sultana reached Memphis on April 26th, it was dangerously overcapacity, carrying over 2,100 souls despite being built for only 376. In the early hours of April 27th, just hours after John Wilkes Booths assassination, the Sultana erupted in a horrific explosion while traveling north of Memphis, resulting in the loss of more than 1,500 lives. The tragedy was overshadowed by the national focus on the recent events surrounding Lincolns death, leading to a lack of attention that has persisted throughout history. Investigations into the disaster revealed shocking truths that so