The SS Sultana was a Mississippi River steamboat that tragically exploded on April 27, 1865, near Memphis, Tennessee, resulting in one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history. The explosion was due to boiler failure, likely caused by overloading, poor maintenance, and excessive pressure.
The ship was grossly overcrowded, carrying around 2,300 people—mostly Union soldiers recently released from Confederate prisons (like Andersonville and Cahaba)—despite having a legal capacity of only 376. An estimated 1,800 people died, either from the explosion, drowning, or hypothermia in the cold river. The disaster occurred near Mound City, Arkansas, about 7 miles north of Memphis.
[Photo above: Sultana at Helena, Arkansas, on April 26, 1865, the day before her destruction. A crowd of paroled prisoners covers her decks.]
The steamboat’s captain, J. Cass Mason, was offered $5 per soldier (and $10 per officer) to transport them, incentivizing him to take as many as possible. Some officials allegedly turned a blind eye to overcrowding due to bribes or negligence. With the war just ending (Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865), transportation systems were overwhelmed with returning soldiers.
The disaster was overshadowed by news of President Lincoln’s assassination (April 14, 1865) and the end of the Civil War. No one was ever held legally responsible for the tragedy.
A memorial was erected in Marion, Arkansas, near the site of the explosion. The Sultana Disaster Museum in Marion preserves the history of the event.
