description SS Sultana Overview
SS Sultana was a wooden side-wheel steamboat operating on the Mississippi River during the final weeks of the American Civil War. On 27 April 1865, overloaded with passengers, including many recently released Union prisoners of war, it suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion north of Memphis and burned before sinking. Estimates of the death toll vary, but roughly 1,200 people are commonly believed to have died. The disaster is remembered as one of the deadliest maritime accidents in United States history.
insights Ranking position
SS Sultana ranks #26 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, behind IJN Musashi, ahead of HMAS Sydney (II).
help SS Sultana FAQ
Why was the SS Sultana carrying so many Union soldiers?
The steamboat was transporting recently released Union prisoners of war north along the Mississippi after the Civil War. More than 2,000 people were reportedly aboard a vessel designed for only a fraction of that number.
What caused the Sultana disaster?
One or more boilers exploded during the early hours of 27 April 1865 near Memphis, setting the wooden vessel on fire. Severe overcrowding, high river conditions, and problems involving the boilers made the consequences catastrophic.
How many people died when the Sultana sank?
The commonly cited death toll is around 1,200, although incomplete passenger records prevent an exact count. That makes it the deadliest maritime disaster in United States history by loss of life.
Why is the Sultana disaster less famous than the Titanic?
It occurred just after the Civil War, amid news of Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth. The confused passenger records and limited contemporary coverage also kept the disaster from acquiring the same public profile as Titanic.
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