On April 21, 1865 the Sultana pulled away from the New
Orleans docks for what would be her final trip. Aboard were
seventy five cabin passengers and well over 200 deck
passengers and crew. Shortly after dawn, April 23, Chief
Engineer Nathan Wintringer noticed a leak in one of the
boilers and brought it to Captains' attention. Upon the boats
arrival at Vicksburg later the same day, the leak was
repaired by a local boilermaker. The repair appeared adequate
although the boilermaker had doubts as to the permanency.
However, the captain was eager to move on.

While the Sultana underwent repairs at Vicksburg, activity
was under way to provide for a special group of men. They
came from places America would not soon forget, the infamous
Confederate prisons at Andersonville, Georgia and Cahaba,
Alabama. Numbers of them fought at Gettysburg, Chickamauga,
Nashville and Kennesaw Mountain only to be captured and
endure long months of incarceration.  All told there were
approximately 5,000 of these exchange prisoners.

When the Sultana reached Vicksburg that after noon of April
23, 1865. The first inclination was to send the Sultana north
and await for the next packet.  However it was suggested that
the balance of the Union prisoners could board the Sultana
and be counted and identified, the final shipment of prisoners
would total 1,300 to 1,400

While the Sultana's boilers were being repaired, the loading
of parolees began.  They represented units organized in Ohio,
Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Hour after hour the parolees continued to march on board,
taking up quarters in the main saloon, ladies' cabin, and the
Texas and hurricane decks.  Boards began to creak as hundreds
of men squeezed into every inch of available space.  Deck
hands were brought forward to place stanchions under the now
sagging hurricane deck. Sultana's gangplanks were lifted as
the last Union prisoners walked on board.  Governmental
records place the total troop count at 1,866. Other counted
as many as 2,200.
These figures, plus the crew and passengers, would indicate
the Sultana had some 2,400 people on her decks.  There
probably were more people on board than were ever carried on
one boat on the Mississippi. The authorized capacity was 376
passengers and crew.

With paddles churning, the Sultana moved slowly north,

Toward 7 p.m. on the 26th the Sultana arrived at Memphis.
At 1 a.m., April 27, the Sultana steamed away into the dark,
drizzling night. Suddenly, at 2a.m., the silence of the night
was broken by the explosion of the Sultana's boilers.
 

Official totals released by the United States Custom Service
at the time placed the loss at 1,547 while other equally
reliable contemporary loss figures hovered nearer the 1,647
mark.   No matter which total one wishes to accept, the
Sultana sinking ranks as the greatest marine disaster in
American history.

Ironically, in the days following the Sultana disaster
newspapers across the nation gave minimum coverage to the
tragedy.  Columns devoted to the trails of the Lincoln
assassination plotters overshadowed the few inches allotted
to the Sultana disaster. A nation shocked and outraged at the
death of a president made little note or investigation into
the deaths of literally hundreds.  Direct responsibility for
the transport of troops aboard a mechanically unsound vessel
designed to carry 376 passengers fell on no one's shoulders.
 
 

 "Condensed from various articles, accounts, and Books:"
  by Author

           Email to   Josephv387

Killed in the Explosion of the Steamer Sultana
on the night of Apr.27, 1865 =======
 

Last Name       1st Name        Regiment       Company/Rank

Field           Gilbert         23rd OVI       D Priv
Nelson          William         33rd OVI       C Priv
Shepherd        William         35th OVI       C Priv
Braum           Adam            37th OVI       A Priv
Edwards         Jacob           40th OVI       I Corp
Kerns           John            40th OVI       I Priv
Clary           James           41st OVI       F Priv
Bechtolsheimer  Anton           47th OVI       H Priv
King            Lawrence        50th OVI       D Priv
Lee             William R.      50th OVI       E Srgt
Price           Alfred E.       50th OVI       A Corp
Rpberts         John            50th OVI       A Corp
Shearer         George W.       50th OVI       B Priv
Shilling        P.              50th OVI       K Priv
Alltop          George W.       51st OVI       F Priv
Belknap         Charles M.      51st OVI       F Srgt
Lair            Jacob           51st OVI       F Priv
Flint           Thomas          52nd OVI       F Priv
Bower           John C.         58th OVI       C Priv
Branum          Robert          58th OVI       A Priv
Bresam          Peter           58th OVI       D Priv
Campbell        Hiram           58th OVI       B Priv
Elick           John            58th OVI       A Priv
Hawken          John            58th OVI       B Corp
Keistler        Jacob           58th OVI       A Priv
Kens            George          58th OVI       B Priv
Kinser          Christopher     58th OVI       A Priv
Mowery          John            58th OVI       B Priv
Neustadt        David           58th OVI       B Priv
Stuller         James           58th OVI       A Priv
Wells           William         58th OVI       A Priv
Wilson          Samuel          58th OVI       A Priv
Young           Fredrick        58th OVI       C Priv
Bridgeman       Austin A.       63rd OVI       F Priv
Wible           Levi            63rd OVI       G Srgt
Bratton         Hugh W.         64th OVI       D Srgt
Brink           Samuel          64th OVI       A Priv
Brink           Thomas          64th OVI       A Priv
McKinley        Daniel          64th OVI       I Priv
Stuckey         John            64th OVI       I Priv
White           Robert          64th OVI       I Capt
Zimmer          Casper          64th OVI       B Priv
Fairchild       Amos W.         65th OVI       K Priv
Geeseman        David           65th OVI       G Priv
Gregory         Edgar W.        65th OVI       C Srgt
Grubaugh        David           65th OVI       G Priv
Hudson          John            65th OVI       G Priv
Kelly           Thomas          65th OVI       E Priv
Nickerson       Charles H.      65th OVI       E Srgt
Carlin          James W.        71st OVI       F Majr
Aubrey          Morris          72nd OVI       H Priv
Brandt          Jacob           72nd OVI       A Priv
Crane           Ira             72nd OVI       F Priv
Haque           Samuel          72nd OVI       F Priv
Kirk            William         72nd OVI       F Corp
McIntyre        Byron E.        72nd OVI       B Priv
McIntyre        William F.      72nd OVI       B Srgt
Shoe            Emmanuel        72nd OVI       C Priv
Stotler         Michael         72nd OVI       E Priv
Andrews         William H.      75th OVI       A Srgt
Kelly           John            75th OVI       A Priv
Thomas          Thomas          76th OVI       H Priv
Clipner         John            78th OVI       H Priv
Rummell         Adolph W.       80th OVI       E Priv
Ecord           Aaron H         90th OVI       F Priv
Sharetts        Zebulon         93rd OVI       E Priv
Allen           Morris          95th OVI       F Priv
Hammel          Samuel          95th OVI       H Priv
Jackson         Truman          95th OVI       G Corp
Leas            Joseph          95th OVI       F Corp
Litle           John W.         95th OVI       F Srgt
Miller          Peter           95th OVI       E Priv
Poysell         Samuel W.       95th OVI       E Priv
Poysell         William W.      95th OVI       E Priv
Rollins         George H.       95th OVI       E Priv
Wilcox          Marion          95th OVI       F Priv
Hess            Alexander       97th OVI       D Priv
Milner          Reason          97th OVI       C Priv
Poland          James L.        97th OVI       B Srgt
Cornwell        John            100th OVI      A Srgt
Donmire         John            100th OVI      K Priv
Fleagle         John            100th OVI      A Priv
Flemming        James A.        100th OVI      D Priv
Hootnail        Abraham         100th OVI      K Priv
Lambert         Valmore         100th OVI      D Priv
Stockwell       Eleazor B.      100th OVI      E Priv
Dilling         Adam            101st OVI      K Priv
Bahl            Henry           102nd OVI      H Priv
Bahn            Adam            102nd OVI      B Priv
Baker           John            102nd OVI      D Priv
Baney           John            102nd OVI      H Priv
Beal            Amos            102nd OVI      E Priv
Bierly          Jacob           102nd OVI      E Corp
Bernizer        Amos            102nd OVI      H Priv
Bernizer        David T.        102nd OVI      H Priv
Bert            John H.         102nd OVI      D Priv
Cassel          John            102nd OVI      K Priv
Corts           Joseph B.F.     102nd OVI      D Srgt
Couter          Elias           102nd OVI      E Priv
Crow            William         102nd OVI      H Corp
Divelbiss       John            102nd OVI      E Corp
Earich          William         102nd OVI      D Priv
Fabra           David           102nd OVI      A Priv
Fisher Jr.      Daniel          102nd OVI      B Priv
Flint           Lysander        102nd OVI      C Priv
Grise           David           102nd OVI      D Priv
Guard           James W.        102nd OVI      A Priv
Guib            Jacob           102nd OVI      A Priv
Hail            George L.       102nd OVI      A Priv
Harnly          Manuel          102nd OVI      D Priv
Harrington      Gideon          102nd OVI      H Priv
Hartman         John F.         102nd OVI      K Priv
Henderson       Wesley          102nd OVI      A Priv
Holton          Philip L.       102nd OVI      E Priv
Hornbugher      William C.      102nd OVI      C Srgt
Huntsberger     Jonas           102nd OVI      H Corp
Irons           Jacob           102nd OVI      E Corp
Johns           Dixon W.        102nd OVI      G Corp
Keeler          William         102nd OVI      F Priv
Krebbs          Henry           102nd OVI      B Corp
Leidig          Reuben          102nd OVI      K Priv
McCrea          John            102nd OVI      B Corp
McGinnis        Luther          102nd OVI      A Priv
McKelvey        Joseph          102nd OVI      I Priv
Mercer          James M.        102nd OVI      B Priv
Merchand        Leander         102nd OVI      A Priv
Mitchell        Joseph R.       102nd OVI      A Priv
Musser          Benjamin        102nd OVI      H Corp
Ogden           Charles P.      102nd OVI      K Priv
Omweg           Godfred H.      102nd OVI      I Srgt
Oyster          Simon           102nd OVI      E Priv
Price           Simon P.        102nd OVI      G Priv
Richards        Reuben H.       102nd OVI      B Srgt
Rose            Jacob S.        102nd OVI      G Priv
Schrader        John            102nd OVI      G Priv
Shepperly       George          102nd OVI      F Priv
Shoup           Charles W.      102nd OVI      F Priv
Sidle           Henry           102nd OVI      C Priv
Simons          James           102nd OVI      C Priv
Singer          Jeremiah        102nd OVI      K Priv
Sleggle         Ezra K.         102nd OVI      G Priv
Smith           Cyrus           102nd OVI      H Priv
Steinmetz       George          102nd OVI      K Priv
Stephens        Samuel          102nd OVI      G Priv
Stine           David G.        102nd OVI      F Priv
Strawsbaugh     Samuel          102nd OVI      D Priv
Stuff           Fredrick        102nd OVI      E Priv
Torbet          Robert          102nd OVI      F Priv
Uhlich          George W.       102nd OVI      D Priv
Underwood       James           102nd OVI      D Priv
Wade            Benjamin F.     102nd OVI      A Srgt
Wells           Joseph          102nd OVI      B Priv
Wells           Miles           102nd OVI      H Priv
Wheeler         Daniel          102nd OVI      E Priv
Williams        James T.        102nd OVI      D Priv
Willis          William W.      102nd OVI      E Priv
Wynn            Jefferson       102nd OVI      H Priv
Jarrett         John            103rd OVI      H Priv
Shaw            Delos           103rd OVI      E Priv
Humbarger       Samuel          111th OVI      H Priv
Joseph          Michial         111th OVI      E Priv
Long            Bartholomew     114th OVI      C Priv
Bair            Martin V.B.     115th OVI      B Priv
Cody            Thomas          115th OVI      C Priv
Cook            James C.        115th OVI      C Priv
Cox             Robert          115th OVI      G Priv
Crew            Benjamin        115th OVI      F Corp
Cross           George F.       115th OVI      C Priv
Culnon          John            115th OVI      G Priv
Deitrack        Charles W.      115th OVI      F Corp
Dickerson       Riley           115th OVI      C Priv
Dolan           James           115th OVI      C Priv
Doty            Nathan          115th OVI      C Priv
Eadie           James W.        115th OVI      C Corp
Eadie Jr.       John            115th OVI      C Lt.
Eatinger        Gillis W.       115th OVI      C Corp
Ellis           Edward          115th OVI      C Priv
Ely             John            115th OVI      C Srgt
Evans           Thomas          115th OVI      G Corp
Garrett         Edwin W.        115th OVI      H Musi
Garrison        John            115th OVI      C Priv
Gaylord         Robert          115th OVI      C Priv
Harris          George          115th OVI      C Priv
Hendricks       Adam M.         115th OVI      F Priv
Hume            Freeman L.      115th OVI      C Priv
King            Edward          115th OVI      C Priv
Laugheter       Alexander       115th OVI      F Priv
Lowery          Deming N.       115th OVI      G Capt
Maley           Christopher     115th OVI      C Priv
Myers           Daniel          115th OVI      G Priv
Patterson       James           115th OVI       G Corp
Price           William D.      115th OVI      C Priv
Roath           Robert W.       115th OVI      F Priv
Rue             Thomas          115th OVI      F Srgt
Smathers        William         115th OVI      C Priv
Smith           William H. H.   115th OVI      F Srgt
Spencer         Thomas          115th OVI      G Priv
Stephens        Charles         115th OVI      C Corp
Stephens        William         115th OVI      C Priv
Stout           Charles         115th OVI      C Priv
Thompson        Eli             115th OVI      G Srgt
Way             Charles         115th OVI      C Srgt
Weaver          Peter W.        115th OVI      C Priv
Wetmore         Charles H.      115th OVI      C Priv
Wood            Isaac J.        115th OVI      C Priv
Okey            Edmund          116th OVI      F Priv
Test            Josephus        153rd OVI      C Priv
Badgly          Benton          175th OVI      G Priv
Barnes          Edward          175th OVI      F Musi
Barrere         William         175th OVI      G Lt.
Bayne           James           175th OVI      D Priv
Bercaw          Norman          175th OVI      G Priv
Boyd            George W.       175th OVI      G Priv
Carroll         William         175th OVI      D Priv
Hendrixon       George W.       175th OVI      E Priv
Holmes          Samuel A.       175th OVI      D Priv
Hudson          James           175th OVI      G Priv
McCoy           William H.      175th OVI      F Priv
Meeker          Timothy         175th OVI      E Priv
Morris          Stacy           175th OVI      G Priv
Myers           William         175th OVI      D Priv
Rice            Martin L.       175th OVI      A Priv
Richmond        William         175th OVI      D Priv
Shelton         William         175th OVI      D Priv
Smith           Henry           175th OVI      I Priv
Staton          George W.       175th OVI      E Priv
VanEman         Matthew T.      175th OVI      G Srgt
Bahn            John            183rd OVI      H Priv
Baumgardner     W. J.           183rd OVI      K Priv
Getterman       John            183rd OVI      F Priv
Gunther         John            183rd OVI      E Musi
Schneider       Adam            183rd OVI      C Priv
Zehfuss         Gustan          183rd OVI      H Priv
Lockwood        Darius          2nd OVC        A Priv
Gustin          William         3rd OVC        K Priv
Kerstetter      Benjamin        3rd OVC        M Sadl
Pouch           Asa             3rd OVC        K Priv
McMannis        Miles           6th OVC        I Priv
Baker           William         7th OVC        A Priv
Baldwin         Jonas K         7th OVC        A Corp
Botts           Thomas          7th OVC        A Priv
Brickett        James           7th OVC        A Corp
Burbank         August          7th OVC        A Priv
Dixon           Archie C.       7th OVC        E Priv
Drainer         Jacob           7th OVC        A Priv
Drumm           Charles         7th OVC        A Priv
Duzan           William         7th OVC        F Priv
Fanning         Albert          7th OVC        A Priv
Foltz           Peter           7th OVC        A Priv
Gilb            Fredrick        7th OVC        A Corp
Harrison        Longshore D.    7th OVC        B Priv
Hill            George          7th OVC        A Priv
Ketterman       William         7th OVC        A Capt
Lewis           David           7th OVC        A Priv
McGlenchey      William         7th OVC        A Corp
Morganthaler    Jacob           7th OVC        A Farr
Moyer           Phillip         7th OVC        A Srgt
Reibel          William         7th OVC        A Priv
Robb            Robert          7th OVC        A Priv
Sherrick        Samuel A.       7th OVC        A Priv
Starritt        John H.         7th OVC        F Corp
Woodward        Theodore        7th OVC        A Priv
Davis           Milton J.       9th OVC        D Srgt
Grim            William         9th OVC        C Priv
Mankin          Silas           9th OVC        H Priv
Moulton         William P.      9th OVC        F Priv
Wright          Benjamin F.     9th OVC        M Priv
Burnett         Isaac           10th OVC       M Priv
Hunter          Albert E.       10th OVC       M Priv
Morgan          Job E.          10th OVC       B Priv
Offit           Albert          10th OVC       B Priv
Taylor          Charles         10th OVC       A Priv
Hosea           Donald          Mclaughlin Cav.B Priv
Irvine          James H.        Mclaughlin Cav.A Priv
Jesson          Robert          Mclaughlin Cav.A Priv
Provines        Eli F.          Mclaughlin Cav.A Priv
Steinaur        John W.         Mclaughlin Cav.A Priv
Tidball         Charles B.      Mclaughlin Cav.A Priv
Wagner          John            Mclaughlin Cav.A Priv