Episode 261: The SS Sultana disaster - Part Two

About this episode

This episode discusses the SS Sultana disaster, focusing on the explosion that occurred in April 1865 and its impact on Confederate POWs.

On a cold April night in 1865, the calm across the waters of the Mississippi River was shattered by a sudden explosion - one which destroyed a steamboat and most of the Confederate POWs crowded on its decks. Videos: Remember the Sultana The History Channel: The Sultana Part-Time Explorer: America's Worst Shipwreck Articles and books: Sultana: Surviving the Civil War, Prison, and the Worst Maritime Disaster in American History , by Alan Huffman Knoxville, TN: S.S. Sultana Memorial Appomattox Court House: The Surrender Meeting American Battlefield Trust: The Sultana Disaster The Sultana Disaster Museum Toledo Blade: The Sinking of the Sultana

People in this episode

Host: Jennifer Matarese

Topics covered

• American history
• maritime disaster
• Civil War
• historical events
• military history

Keywords

• SS Sultana
• disaster
• explosion
• Confederate POWs
• maritime history
• Civil War

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The History Channel, American Battlefield Trust, The Sultana Disaster Museum, Toledo Blade

Books & works: Sultana: Surviving the Civil War, Prison, and the Worst Maritime Disaster in American History

Places: Mississippi River

More episodes of Disaster Area

• Episode 265: The Cutter incident - part three · May 8, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Episode 264: The Cutter incident - Part Two · May 1, 2026 · 41 min
• RERELEASE: Episode 254: The Cutter incident - Part One · February 27, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Episode 263: Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 · February 21, 2026 · 58 min
• Episode 262: The sinking of the White Ship · February 11, 2026 · 1h 22m
• Episode 260: The SS Sultana disaster - Part One · January 1, 2026 · 39 min