Sultana Shipwreck - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Sultana Deaths/Survivors

MarkDavis9105 — 29 Aug 2001 6:54:53 GMT

If you looking for info on a soldier that was on the Sultana contact me. I have the Appendix A & B from the book "Disaster on the Mississippi" by Gene Salecker. It is most complete accounting of survivors. Info includes soldier name,regiment and company,lived or died,injuires,where hospitalized,etc.

Mark Davis
Hartford City,Indiana
md9105@skyenet.net

ps- would like to talk to any descendants of "Survivors of the Sultana" Association about reunions,Sultana Medals,stories,burial sites of Sultana soldiers.

James Jefferson Brock... Sultana survivor?

walk_wild777 — 28 Jul 2006 5:56:20 GMT

I'm looking to verify an ancestor of mine was on board the Sultana. Someone claims he was, but I can't find any books to verify that he was.

He was James Jefferson Brock, a union solider from Sevier Tn.

If anyone has any books on the Sultana, could someone see if he's listed anywhere?

New Book on Sultana

gsalecker — 2 Jun 2008 4:06:13 GMT

Hello All: I am Gene Eric Salecker, the author of the 1996 book "Disaster on the Mississippi: The Sultana Explosion April 27, 1865." After 12 years, I believe that it is time for a new book on the Sultana. Over the past 25-30 years I have compiled more that 300 accounts from survivors, witnesses, and rescuers from people connected to the Sultana. Many of the accounts were published in Chester D. Berry's 1892 book entitled "Loss of the Sultana and Reminiscences of Survivors." I am hoping to take the accounts that never made it to Berry's wonderful book and publish them in a new book, tentatively entitled, "Loss of the Sultana II."

If anyone has any first person accounts of the experiences of their Sultana ancestor - be it from letters, obituaries, pension records, newspapers, etc - now is the time to get them to me for inclusion in my upcoming book. I will be working on the manuscript this summer and would like them as soon as possible. ALSO - ANY COPIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS would be a blessing!

Also, please feel free to contact me to see if I have anything on your relative. Believe me, I have quite a bit of information on the Sultana people - both soldiers and civilians. Please contact me, I will see what I have and will let you know as soon as possible.

I can be reached at - g-salecker@neiu.edu or at:
Gene Eric Salecker
2526 N. Davisson ST.
River Grove, IL 60171-1710

Thanks to all in advance.

Seth GREEN -Looking for Info?

JudyBoie51 — 4 Nov 2003 5:05:20 GMT

I am looking for information on a Seth GREEN from Indiana who was supposed to have been on the Sultana when it exploded. Can anyone verify this for me? If he was, what other info is available on Seth Green? Parents names, date and place of birth, etc.
Grateful for any information.
Thanks, Judy Mills Boie

Lemuel E Brooks Sultana Survivor

Eleanor Hemmes — 28 Feb 2008 2:30:02 GMT

Lemuel E Brooks of the 2nd MI was a survivor of the Sultana disaster. He returned to Michigan.Lemuel was b 15 Dec 1840 in Independence Cuyahoga Ohio. He married Ruby Cornelia Putnam on 7 Oct 1866 in Kent MI. He died 5 Apr 1927 in MI and is buried in White Swan Cem Oakfield Kent Co MI.
Eleanor Greene Hemmes HemmesEG@aol.com

Sevier, Jefferson, Blount, and surrounding counties Sultana survivors

Beulah Karr — 24 Oct 2006 10:58:29 GMT

I am in the process of writing a book on soldiers of the Civil war entitled "ONE MOMENT OF GLORY--A TRIBUTE TO OUR CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS OF EAST TENNESSEE". I do biographical sketches of soldiers of East Tennessee who were in the Civil War. So far I have over 200 pages of local soldiers and many photos. If you have a biographical sketch of a soldier who was in the Civil War, I would love to include him in the book. Or if you just have a name i can do the rest. Target publication in about a year. I would especially like to have photos of soldiers who were on the Sultana. My only goal is to give these men recognition for the sacrifice they made. This is a project I have devoted the last year to. Contributions are welcome; however, most of my profiles are self generated from Civil War rosters.

Peachy and Isaac Bright, 24th Indiana

tesscaid — 22 May 2007 10:16:46 GMT

Looking for info on Peachy H. Bright and Isaac S. Bright, brothers, both in the 24th Indiana Light Artillery, both released from the Andersonville Prison, and both died on the Steamship Sultana.

SULTANA DESCENDANTS REUNION - April 13th and 14th, 2007 in Athens, Alabama

bohpoli — 14 Feb 2007 4:14:02 GMT

Reunion is “open” to descendants of survivors and any one else interested in War Between the States history. Gene Salecker and Jerry Potter, the authors of the latest Sultana books, will be there.
Announcement by Norman Shaw below:
Come join us for our 2007 reunion held for the first time in Athens, AL. The primary reason to meet here is to visit the Union fort sites in Athens (Ft. Henderson) and Sulphur Branch Trestle where many Union soldiers were captured in the fall 1864 railroad raid by none other that Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. Only one corner of Ft. Henderson remains, but the fortification at Sulphur Branch Trestle is well preserved with a modern home situated in the middle! However, we have very fortunate in that the owners have agreed to, even welcomed, a visit by our group to the interior (with some restrictions).

We also have the privilege of using some of the facilities of Athens State University for our events. The use of the Ballroom will be twofold: for the Friday evening talks with displays arranged around the room and for the Saturday evening banquet catered through the university. Something new has been added this year for Friday afternoon starting around 2:00 p.m.--a musical time of about 1.5 hours for singing, playing instruments, etc. to be held on the stage reserved at Athens State. Descendant Penny Lyle has volunteered to oversee the planning of this event so please contact her if you have something to offer and don't be shy. Remember, you will be amongst friends. Penny is the perfect person to take on this task as she teaches music in her home state of Florida. Some local talent may also be involved.

Again, we will have a tour on Saturday starting in the morning and ending late afternoon. Athens is not a large town so the trips between stops are short. We will commence with a short walking tour of Athens State conducted by one of it's history professors. Lunch will be at a local restaurant large enough to serve our group with each person ordering for himself/herself off the varied menu. Following our midday meal, we will travel a few miles north to reach Sulphur Branch Trestle which will be the conclusion but highlight of the tour. I am still working on the details of the tour but expect a good time.

The costs for the weekend will be amazingly low. Through my contact at Athens State (Debbi Kelley is an employee there. I went to high school with her husband, Mike, who has been to several of our reunions) there will be no cost for the use of the Ballroom and auditorium! I feel that school buses will adequately serve our purposes for the tour since the distances between stops are short and a bus coach may not make it up the steep hill at Sulphur Branch Trestle, let alone turn around there. I have reserved two school buses with a company in nearby Huntsville with the option to add another if needed. I estimate the charge per person will be $10.00 for a 48 passenger bus.

The Sat. banquet will only cost $14.95. I gave the menu in the last newsletter, but let me repeat it here: buffet of roast beef or grilled chicken with lemon and pepper, green beans, scalloped potatoes, salad, roll, tea or coffee, and dessert! (makes my month water just typing it!).

Lodging will be on your own. There are a variety of motels at the primary Athens exit (No. 351) off I-65. Here is a partial list: Best Western, Budget Inn, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, and Town & Country. You might contact the local Chamber of Commerce at 256/232-2600 for more information. There are also a number of eating places at this location. As a side note, the nearest airport is at Huntsville, AL, only about 30 miles east of Athens if you want to fly in.

Let's now talk registration. The banquet and bus costs need to be prepaid for a total of $24.95. A check should be made out to me and mailed to me at P. O. Box 30372, Knoxville, TN, 37930. I will need contact information on you and any in your party and your ancestor's name, if any, and unit. You can enclose these facts with the check or e-mail me at nshawatty@hotmail.com.

Before I conclude, I need to invite everyone to attend my talk on the Sultana to be given to the Huntsville CW Roundtable on Thurs., April 12th (the day before our reunion starts) at the Elk's Lodge in Huntsville. A chicken buffet meal will be available for $7.50 starting at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting to begin at 6:30 p.m. There is no charge if you wish to skip the meal and only come for my presentation.

I think our record attendance was around 140 at our initial visit to Vicksburg. Let's see if we can surpass that number. Let me know if you have any questions or need further information or have suggestions
Norman Shaw nshawatty@hotmail.com.

Alonzo K. Smith - Company K, 22nd Infantry, MI

ali984tee — 12 Jun 2006 11:37:57 GMT

I'm searching for any information on Alonzo K. Smith He was born around 1841 and married Fannie G. Locke. They were married about 1860 - 1861 Sanilac Co., MI. Fannie and Alonzo had two children: Ida L. (b. abt. 1862) and Melvin A. (b. abt 1863). Alonzo enlisted in the civil war Aug 7, 1862 and was a POW at Andersonville prison. He was released and on his way back home, when the Steamship Sultana exploded on the Mississippi river. He died the day after the explosion on 28 Apr 1865. I would like to know which cemetery is is buried at.

Alonzo K. Smith
Residence: Worth, Michigan
Occupation:
Service Record:
Promoted to Full Sergeant
Enlisted as a Private on 07 August 1862 in Lexington at the age of 21 Enlisted in Company K, 22nd Infantry Regiment Michigan on 22 August 1862 was POW on 20 September 1863 Killed by Explosion on 28 April 1865 in Steamer "Sultana", MS River
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65. (MIRoster) Published in 1903

Smith, Alonzo K
Side: Union
Unit Name: 22 Michigan Infantry
Regiment: 22
State: Michigan
Function: Infantry
Company: K
Rank: Sergeant
Type: Held at Andersonville and survived Capture Date: Unknown Capture Site: Unknown Alternate Name: None
Remarks: EXCHANGED APRIL 1, 1865. SURVIVED THE SULTANA TRAGEDY.
Source: Andersonville Prison Record

Sultana Passenger List
Alonzo K. Smith, Unit 22nd Michigan Infantry, Co. K, Rank: Sergeant, Fate: Died
Source: River Rock Entertainment, LLC,
http://www.sultanadisaster.com/

Thanks!

History Channel - Sultana

melissa — 19 Nov 2006 2:30:10 GMT

I saw a show on the Steam Ship "Sultana" last night on the History Channel and I believe it was included as part of a show about the Civil War.
I had no idea about this terrible tragedy and they said that more lives were lost on this ship than on the Titanic.
They also said that a man named "Loudon" was most likely responsible for a terroristic type of attack on this ship by planting some sort of fake looking item made to look like a lump of coal that would have been shoveled into the burners. This fake lump of coal was filled with gun powder or some type of black powder and of course when the heat of the ovens hit it, it blew sky high.
This was a horrible tragedy, and one I had never heard of before but apparently these types of attacks on the steam ships were not uncommon during the Civil War.

Sultana Prisoner Atchley

Bill Atchley Beard — 11 Aug 2006 12:47:39 GMT

Does anyone have a listing of any Atchleys on board the Sultana. Benjamin was removed at Memphis(?) and hospitalized shortly prior to the explosion.

The Sultana

JanStith51 — 17 Oct 2006 8:35:00 GMT

I do look-ups if you suspect you have an ancestor involved in the Sultana Disaster.

E-mail JanStith@msn.com

James Morris

BeverlyMarine72 — 18 Dec 2006 9:15:59 GMT

Our greatxuncle James Morris of the Unit 6th Kentucky Calvalry- Company H- Rank Private, son of Jesse and Louisa H. Scott Morris; born 1841 Green County, Kentucky, died 27th of April 1865 near Memphis, Tennessee inexplosion of steamship SULTANA, he died single, and has 11 siblings. marineb@msn.com

J W MILLIGAN

Scismgenie — 10 Oct 2006 1:55:11 GMT

Crawfordsville Review
Jan 4, 1916 Tuesday

of Clarks Hill has just received word of the death of T. W. Milligan at his home in Netawaka, KS Thursday Dec 30, 1915 from hardening of the arteries. He was confined to his bed for three months and had been blind two years previous to his death. He was born at Prairieville, Indiana May 6, 1843. Accompanied by FM Lindsay; John E. Loveless and Charles Loveless he made an overland trip to Kansas leaving Clarks Hill in September 1869 with a two-horse covered wagon equipped for hunting. He located in Jackson County, KS where he has continued to reside. He enlisted in May 1861 when there was a call for 9--day Soldiers for the union. When his time of enlistment had expired, he returned home. When Co G, 20th Indiana formed soon after his return he was prevented from reenlisting by a severe attack of typhoid fever. He enlisted in Co. G 72nd Indiana 26 July 1862 and served until the close of the war. He was captured and confined in Libby prison one month and Andersonville for 12 months. He was on the Sultana when it was blown-up on the Mississippi River April 27, 1865 with 2000 soldiers on board and he floated 13 miles down the river on part of the wreckage. A short time after being rescued and taken to the hospital at Memphis he became unconscious and remained so several hours. He is survived by the widow, Amelia, a daughter Mary Stroud and two brothers, William Milligan of Kansas City and John W. of Clark's Hill. The deceased will be better known as "Buck" Milligan to some of the older residence of Clarks' Hill who knew him in youth. He lived an exemplary life and died rich in the esteem of all. The remains will be buried at Circleville Kansas Sunday.

George Carter Worley on Sultana?

Debra Whorley — 10 Aug 2006 3:54:10 GMT

According to Andersonville records George Carter Worley was released alive (thanks Kevin). He never made it home though and no one in the family ever heard from him again and assumed he died at Andersonville.
He was born and lived in Kentucky up until he joined the war, one of his brothers (Leander) moved and lived in Poplar Bluff Missouri with his family about the same time.
Our line of thought is George possibly could have been on Sultana once he was released and headed to the stop at New Madrid (about 50 miles from Poplar Bluff)...
Any help or clues would be greatly appreciated.

Code No: 48090
Grave No: NOT BURIED AT ANDERSONVILLE
Last Name: WORLEY
First Name: GEORGE C.
Rank: PRIVATE
Company: H
Regiment: 2
State: KY
Branch of Service: CAVALRY
Date of Death:
Cause of Death:
Remarks:
Reference*: P 435 [432]
Place Captured: NEWNAN, GA
Date Captured: 7/30/1864
Alternate Names:
Status: SURVIVED ANDERSONVILLE
More Information
Available: NO

East TN Sultana survivors Hooper/Hodges

fscangie — 15 Jun 2006 1:36:27 GMT

Has anyone see the pension files for JAMES WILEY HODGES?
I placed an order for them with the National Archives only to learn the VA still has the files. It will require a Freedom of Information request for me to read the files.

What I am really interested in is any information in the files concerning the first husband of Mrs. James Wiley Hodges. She was the widow of JAMES HARVEY HOOPER, a fatality on the Sultana, while James Wiley Hodges was a survivor.
Both men were in 3rd TN Cav and had been at Cahaba. Hooper had been a sergeant in Company D while Hodges had been in Company F.
James Wiley Hodges became the guardian of Hooper's only child when he married Hooper's widow. Her testimony for her widow's pension and child's pension (Hooper pension records) indicates she had worked for Hodges's mother during the war. After the death of Hodges, she again applied for a widow's pension. I figure she may have made statements about her first husband's death when she made that second application.
So, if anyone studying the Sultana survivors has seen the pension files for James Wiley Hodges, could you tell me whether it is worth my taking the time for the FOA request to the VA for his pension documents?

Sultana Shipwreck

Jann Hodges — 3 Sep 2005 9:11:52 GMT

My great grandfather was on the Sultana when it sank and survived. Any and all information gratefully received.

Book-Adam Farmer 3rd TN Cav.-died on Sultana

@@Sundown41@aol.com — 1 Sep 2002 11:59:56 GMT

I am in the process of finishing the final draft of a book on Adam Farmer from Blount Co TN. He was in the 3rd TN Cav. and died on the Sultana. I will include Adams story and his descendants from TN and MO. Anyone that may be interested may contact me at Sundown41@aol.com. Thanks.

Elmwood Cem. Mphs, TN Monument Picture

mrsknolanfrederick — 15 Oct 2005 10:21:22 GMT

Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis TN. This picture was taken Sep. 2004.

John Smith

Julie Hassinger — 13 Sep 2005 5:22:36 GMT

Was there a John Smith onboard the Sultana? The John Smith I am inquiring about lived in Bridgeport, Ct in 1860 where his son John Lawrence Smith was born and was married to Mary Elizabeth( maiden surname unknown). He,Mary ELizabeth, and John Lawrence Smith may have moved to New York where Katherine Mae Smith born in 1864 may have been born. Mary Elizabeth was pregnant at the time of John's death and gave birth to a daughter named Minnie, shortly before her own death in 1866 at Bellevue Hospital in New York.

Sultana Memorial Marker Pictures

magersj — 26 Jan 2005 5:59:49 GMT

Taken in Mansfield Ohio Aug 2004

Nathan Wintringer

DavidPeterson511 — 5 Jun 2004 3:10:21 GMT

If anyone should happen across a photo of the Sultana's First Engineering Officer Nathaniel Wintringer, you would certainly be a godsend to me. He was one of my ancesters and he survived the nightmare of the Sultana and went on to Captain a couple of other Packet ships. A picture of him would lok good on my wall and family tree.

David

Sultana -Surname-DEVOTO

Lucille MARRE Renfroe — 29 Nov 2003 12:50:11 GMT

Hi,
I would be very interested in knowing if the Sultana accident list possibly contained the name of:
Angelo DeVoto
Thanks much.
Lucille M. Renfroe

Sultana Organization

Michael Bowman — 22 Sep 2004 6:31:42 GMT

My name is Michael Bowman. I am a doctoral student in Heritage Studies at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Over the past two semesters, I have worked on projects regarding the Sultana. As part of one class, I submitted a plan that would create a Sultana museum and establish a Sultana Trail that extends from Georgia along the Gulf Coast up through states bordering the Mississippi River.

Currently, I am researching organizations like the Sultana Descendents Association. I have looked at your website and would like some more details about your group. Specifically:
What things have you done to attract more media attention about the Sultana?
What are the goals of your organization?
What is the organizational structure of the Association (Officers? Dues? Proof of Ancestry? Etc.)
What are your future plans?

Please include any other information that you find important to your group.

Thank you in advance for your help. I look forward to communicating with you.

Isaac Noah DAVENPORTs account of surviving Andersonville & the Sultana

Maureen Pierce — 17 Aug 2003 5:44:41 GMT

http://www.henderson-lea.hc.k12tn.net/donahue/turner/gt-c15c...

Isaac Noah DAVENPORT (1840-1922) of Scotts Hill, Tennessee, was my great-great-great grandfather and survived both Andersonville & the Sultana Shipwreck. His tale can be found at the above link if anyone's interested.

Info on survivor Thomas Daughtery

trishegbert_2 — 4 Jan 2004 2:04:17 GMT

Looking for hospital info records for Thomas Daughtery, Union, POW at Andersonville, 6 KY Calvary, regiment 6, company H, rank private, shows to have been captured 6-24-1864 in Lafayette, GA. Remarks in Civil War records in bold type shows survived Sultana Tragedy. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Trish

William Henry Seward

brodg — 5 Jul 2003 1:43:26 GMT

I am looking for my GGG Grandfather, William Henry Seward, who was released from Andersonville Prison at the end of the war but we have no record of him after that. Are there any online databases to search for passengers of the Sultana?

Winfield Scott Pottle - Sultana Survivor

feagin — 16 Aug 2002 12:25:35 GMT

My gg grandfather is Winfield Scott Pottle who served with Platts Zouaves in the 54th Ohio Infantry. My grandfather fought at Shiloh and other areas in Tennessee. Near Memphis, General Sherman was on a train and was being quickly overtaken by the Rebs and General Forest's Calvary. My ancestor had his rifle and just as a saber came down on his head, he lifted his rifle to deflect the blow. He had an open wound on his forhead which quickly became infested. Thinking he might be a spy, the rebs sent him to Libby Prison. Later he was sent to Belle Island and finally to Andersonville Prison in Georgia. A place of horrors. He survived all of that and was put on the Sultana to go home to Ohio. His bunk made at the stern of the ship was named "White". The ship blew up flinging him and his mate into the cold, murky Mississippi River. He clung onto debris for hours. Finally, a fisherman picked him up and took him to a local hospital. His father, believing him to be dead, came to the camp with a coffin to take his body home in. It is amazing to me that my ancestor went through so much. He is buried in the National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. His father, my ggg grandfather is buried nearby.

William Weise, Co. G, 10 MO Cavalry (Union)

CaroleePS — 21 Jul 2002 10:35:52 GMT

Does anyone have any information as to whether William Weise (he might have been a private at the time) was on the Sultana? He was my gggrandfather and his pension file includes an affidavit by his company commander to the effect that William was on "the steamboat that exploded" and I thought that it might have been the Sultana, although I know that plenty of other steamboats have exploded, also.

Thank you in advance.

Carolee Smith

Record of Tang Martin, Sultana Survivor

JudyColwell49 — 5 Jan 2003 12:23:40 GMT

Looking for any passenger list that might show Tang Martin as a passenger on the Sultana. He told the story many years later of being on the Sultana, swimming to shore. He was a gambler at the time, not a soldier. Would appreciate any help.

Sultana Survivor

Mary Carlson — 20 Feb 2002 3:18:26 GMT

Do you have any info on Charles Smith, M Company 7th Cav. IN He is my gg-grandfather. He is listed in Jerry Potter's book as being in the 8th Calvery, but his pension and family records say the 7th Calvery. I would like to know if he was treated at a hospital, etc. Also, the name of the prison where he is held. I checked the Andersonville records and he is not listed.

online database?

gsteamlead — 9 Sep 2004 4:06:16 GMT

IS there an online database with a passenger list for the Sultana? I am looking for JAcob Rohr, who was on the Sultana and was from Georgia. It is a possibility that this was my 3xg-Grandfather, but I've hit a brick wall. Any suggestions?

Sultana

GailRhodes|MA1450244 — 12 Mar 2002 2:33:32 GMT

San anyone tell me if JOHN FLOYD MCDOW was on the Sultana? I don't wish to buy Salecker's book unless my ancestor was on the ship. Thank you to all.

CHARLES STOUT / SULTANA EXPLOSION / 27 APR 1865

Kathy V. — 2 Feb 2002 3:41:14 GMT

Would like any information on the family of Charles Stout who had just been released from Andersonville Prison after serving with the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the civil war. Charles Stout was on his way home aboard the steamer Sultana when it exploded on 27 Apr 1865 killing him and a number of others. Would like to know the names of his parents.

A Case For/Against Sabotage

Deb Rule — 24 Jan 2002 5:24:29 GMT

We have offered to host Gene Salecker's rebuttal to my North & South magazine article "Sultana: A Case For Sabotage" on our website. Mr. Salecker's rebuttal and the counterargument are now up and available on the Boat-Burners' pages of Civil War St. Louis.
http://www.civilwarstlouis.com
Deb Rule