Sinking the Sultana

The steamboat Sultana's catastrophic explosion in 1865 remains America's deadliest maritime disaster, occurring as thousands of Union soldiers, recently released from Confederate prisons, were en route home. Overcrowded and hastily repaired for profit, the ship's journey ended in tragedy when its boilers exploded, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life. In this richly researched narrative, author Sally M. Walker explores the events and questions surrounding the disaster, shedding light on a pivotal yet often overlooked historical event.