The Sultana

Strangely enough, despite a potential death toll of 1,800 persons, the biggest maritime disaster to ever occur in the United States is largely forgotten today. The Sultana, a wooden steamboat originally constructed in 1863 to transport cotton down the Mississippi River, was the vessel in question. However, because of the American Civil War, it was mostly employed to transport troops; although having a 376-person capacity, it frequently carried more than 2,000 people.

On the morning of April 27, 1865, the Sultana set sail on its tragic voyage with about 2,300 passengers and crew aboard, the majority of whom were recently freed Union POWs. They believed they were finally on the road to freedom, but their expectations were quickly dashed when three of the Sultana's four boilers exploded, setting the wooden ship on fire. There are many different estimates, but anything from 1,000 to 1,800 people died in the ensuing turmoil.

Historians blame Americans' overabundance of knowledge for the tragedy's lack of widespread recognition today. General Lee's signing of a cease-fire on April 9 effectively brought an end to the Civil War. John Wilkes Booth killed President Lincoln five days later. The tragedy of the Sultana did not have the same effect it would have on another occasion because it was a busy month for America.

Date: April 27, 1865

Deaths: ~1,800