I have a general comment about these snippets and the value they bring to us, the viewers. They are excellent in content, professionally 'produced', and fascinating to ponder. So many of them are events we would never know about, and it's a positive and refreshing use of time on the internet. Thank you for all you do! I urge viewers to pass this on to others!
You are spot on! What I remember of History class in high school, well all of school, it was pretty lame. And none of it was presented as well as any of this channel. From the 3rd grade on up, all we ever studied was the American Revolutionary War. Then we’d start on the Civil War, but didn’t get half through before the year was up. The following year, we started at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, got half way through the Civil war, and this was repeated all the way through the 11th grade! In other words, we learned nothing. Just what they wanted us to know. There was no World History elective, and we never even spoke of the first and Second World War!
I am fascinated with maritime history. I wish they'd taught it in school. I realized early on that I couldn't get a decent education in school, and having always been a voracious reader, I became autodidactic. Anything that can be learned from reading is a free education. Channels like yours are a treasure. Thank you 🌹⚓
I have read about this in Civil War magazines but you, sir, did those men proud in the telling of this. I wish your channel was required material in school.
You , sir, are a class act. I always seem to complain less after watching one of your videos. Maybe because my problems seem trivial after learning about the tragedies suffered by good people who never had a chance to experience the joys of life that I take for granted on a daily basis. These stories remind me to be thankful for what I've been given, and for what has not been taken away from me. Thank you for what you do. Cheers mates.
After graduating high school with a full compliment of history classes, and a 4-year liberal arts degree and several history classes, it is amazing how inadequate that education was. Thank you for the continued history lessons that does need to be remembered.
Chase, have you heard of the Sultana Association? we hold annual reunions ever year, but this year's got postponed due to coronavirus. you can find the association on Facebook
I remember seeing a memorial along the banks of the Mississippi when I was in Memphis a few years ago for business. Truly sad for those men to have survived POW camps (where disease was more likely to kill you than enemy fire in combat) and be headed home, only to lose their lives so needlessly and tragically.
shame we have not learn a damn thing from that . We keep on doing the same mistakes/massacres over and over, and not one has ever though of putting a Barret .50BMG in the head of the 4star General's grandson, as a teaching moment. Thank you for your service.
I have an ancestor who was on this boat. He was badly injured and died at home 18 months later. The govt wouldn't pay his widow a pension because he died more than a year afterwards.
Paul, are you familiar with the Sultana Descendant's Association? it's a group that started in the late 80s and holds annual reunions around the anniversary of the disaster. this year's reunion got postponed until next year because of coronavirus. there's a page for the association on Facebook called The Sultana Association
The most likely scapegoat in a situation like that would typically be the boat captain; but it is difficult to further punish a man who has already died as a result of his misconduct.
I hate to disagree but Col Ruben Hatch would have been he was the head of the port. Also, he got busted for embezzlement but the army quashed the Court Martial and he went AWOL he not only got reinstated but promoted to Colonel, even then hearing this on the Army back then this was most unusual. Guess who his brother was? Secretary of State of Illonois and guess who he knew....Abraham Lincoin. There were letters from Lincoin pretty much demaning his reinstatement on a guy who was a clear disgrace to the uniform. He was also asked to testify before congress several times but never showed up to testify. They have an episode on history detectives on PBS on this matter seriously you need to check this out.
@@pickeljarsforhillary102...the German sappers who landed in Florida after the start of WW2 had similar "infernal devices" as they were called during the Civil war.
Interesting, I wonder who your friend is. As far as I know, there are only 3 or 4 original coal torpedoes known in private hands, plus one in a museum. Although I know of someone who has made some very good reproductions from the original.
My great, great, great Uncle William Price died that night either on the ship or in the water. He is hurried in Ohio in the family plot. I have been to the site of the sinking, it is a pretty cool place to visit.
Are you a member of the Sultana association? I also had a descendent who was on board who survived. We hold annual reunions every year, but this year's was postponed. There's a Facebook page if you've not heard of it
The reunion moves around every year. I live in Ohio and I totally understand, it's not always easy to get to the reunion, depending on where it is, but it's always fun to go
@@florjanbrudar692 yes I am. One of my great great great grandfather's was in the 102nd Ohio, company E. He was in Cahaba prison and survived the Sultana with his only physical injury being some facial scalding.
Dear Mr. History Guy, I am. HUGE fan! I love, not only the great history that deserves to be remembered, but also your wonderful ability as a storyteller. You are not afraid to show your feelings in the telling a story that has effected so many lives. I have watched many of your videos but this is the first one that actually made me cry.
Thank you for this. I live in OH and came across a history marker about this as 73 men from the volunteer infantry here perished aboard. Your video helped my kids and I give them all a moment of silence they deserve.
As usual, well researched , crafted and presented.👍 Of course it is and can only be speculation as to the cause of the boiler explosion but my hypothesis is the vessel being overloaded and struggling against the currents just did not have the power to keep control or make progress. The Captain called the engineer and asked him to do what was necessary to produce more power. The Engineer gagged the safety valves (so essentially no regulation to the maximum steam pressure in the drum) and increased the fires, this would increase steam pressure and the power developed by the engine. However, as the vessel was much deeper in the water and crucially so were the paddles this would have limited the speed of engine and the pressure in the steam would have continued to rise. Normally the safety valves would have acted to release excess pressure but being gagged they could not and - the result is history and deserves to be remembered. I am no expert but am an ex sea going marine engineer with years of steam experience.
Riverboat captains back then were known to sometimes order the boilers to be fed things that increased available power quickly in a pinch but were difficult to regulate...like hog fat or kerosene. Not saying it happened here, but it was done.
Norman Boyes Your conclusions make a lot of sense. I was thinking it was a very similar situation. I don't think the sabotage scenario is very likely. Thanks for your reasoning and insight.
Thank you. I have heard and studied in this. Amazing that there has been little of this horrific tragedy until now. Again thank you for this and all your other offering. They ARE appreciated!
I passed through Vicksburg a little over a month ago and this story was featured on a ghost tour I took. That was the first I'd heard of it. I love that your videos shed light on historical events I've usually never heard of. Great channel!
I appreciate the passion in your voice when discussing the lives lost and little remembered. I read once that many of the victims of the Sultana where survivors of the infamous prisioner of war camp, Andersonville.
Doug, are you aware of the Sultana Association? it's for descendants of those on board and for those just interested in the story. there's an annual reunion every year, but the one this year was postponed due to coronavirus. you can find the Sultana Association on Facebook to get more info about the reunions
How many of history's happenings have been overshadowed by arguably " lesser " occurrences in terms of humanitarian loss. This is history that deserves to be remembered. The History Guy is just the man for the job. Thank you and, again, well done.
I recently found your channel and as a lover of history I have enjoyed the content very much. I just found this one and it particularly hit home with me. My great-great uncle was one of those soldiers on the Santana, having been released from Andersonville Prison. He was fortunate enough to have survived and was very active in the survivors association. He was quite sure that the explosion was due to Confederate sabotage but from all I have learned from studying the records of the circumstances, I personally think it was likely that the boilers exploding were the cause of the disaster. Thank you for including the story of the Sultana on your channel.
I've always been a lover of history, but you have made forgotten history exciting and enlightening! Thank you for your incredible stories I've forgotten history! I have seen the show on the history channel about the Sultana, but you always manage to present pieces of the story that no one else has ever touched. History Guy YOU ROCK
I read somewhere Mark Twain's brother was one of the passengers and after the explosion he helped save several people, but he died from his injuries. Some of the women from the area placed a wreath of roses on his casket.
Bless you sir, I too am an advocate of History, it teaches us so much. Unfortunately we often repeat the same follies. The lack of accountability causes me to marvel. I am a retired Army Officer, and led soldiers in Combat. I lost a soldier during a night movement in a lonely portion of the Iraqi desert. I was investigated and exonerated. However, your telling of this tale is very touching, and very emotional to me. Peace to you. You are doing a wonderful service for all of us who love history, and even those who from time to time listen to your stories. Peace to you sir. This story of the Sultana is incredibly vivid. I have driven through Memphis so many times. Wow... just 7 miles north on the Mississippi!!!! Thanks for what you do!!!
Just googled your idiom, no mention. May I add soldiers fight for freedom, deluded as they are, while politicians sell it for personal gain. I have great respect those men and women who have died for their beliefs, how great is the injustice that they are remembered for the wrong reasons. WW2 our forefathers fought against the Nazi menace, while today these facists are idolized in neoliberal ideology.
I am a fan who has watched many/most or your excellent videos. This is the first time the story has made me genuinely cry. Your emotion in telling the story is both justified and shared. Thank you for enabling us to remember these men and their sacrifices for their country.
Growing up in Memphis, we were never taught about this in school. If my father hadn't been so interested in history and tragic events, I would have never even heard this ships name before. Just discovered this video in 2021 and as always you have done an excellent job at making the events of that night truly speak to me. Keep up the excellent work, we certainly need more content from you to escape into.
Wow! It is amazing how such an event could be so overshadowed by other happenings. Thank you for remembering these people who are now long forgotten. Your stories bring events to life.Thank you for sharing a part of the past with us!
Thanks for your work. I remembered the story and was looking for details to share with my wife on a Sunday AM. Your story was a great resource and a great tribute to the soldiers and passengers that died. I will add you to my subscribe list. Bravo.
Excellent video - have you considered doing a story on the Halifax Explosion in December 1917 or the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Mumbai (Bombay) in April 1944?
Graham Clayton The Halifax explosion was quite a thing. It was likely the second or third largest accidental non-nuclear explosion caused by man & as far as I know, the deadliest. Current estimates rate the blast at about 2.9 Kt-about 15-20% of the amount of energy released by the Hiroshima bomb.
Very very touching episode. Gives one a little, more than little, tear. God Bless all those that served their country, and perished. 'Way back then, as well as now'!!!
This is a great example of why your channel is so great. People simply forgotten because of arbitrary news cycles, sort attention spans and such. You do a great job and service to bringing many of these types of forgotten events vividly back to life.
Wow! Definitely should be the subject of a documentary to be remembered as is deserving. I was in the army stationed outside of Memphis in the '90's and although I was sort of an explorer of areas in my off time, I never heard or saw anything about this loss, so close to Memphis. Thank you for bringing this to light!
Very sad. To survive the hell of a Southern PoW camp only to die on the way home is a real sickener. There is an Australian television presenter who is very popular in the UK called Clive James. His dad was captured by the Japanese following the fall of Hong Kong and somehow survived the war. In an act of generosity the Americans decided to fly Australian PoWs home instead of sending them by ship. His dad was killed when the plane crashed.
Just read Salecker's Disaster on the Mississippi. One of many sad events to transpire that night was one of a tired and weak soldier holding on to two young girls. Drifting all the way to Memphis he tried to reach for a rope or something thrown to him by rescuers. His grip on the girls failed him and the two children sank in to the depths never to be seen again. The soldier was so terribly saden by this, he let go, joining the two girls in that cold dark watery grave. This event needs more people to remember it, so much happened it is a shame it is almost lost to time. Great video 👍
You mean like this article? I had no idea that so many had lost their lives to friendly fire. When I first read your comment, I thought of the 1958 movie Torpedo Run, but the truth of the matter is a lot grimmer than I knew about. www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2003/winter/hell-ships-1.html
When water level drops in a boiler the heat from the fire starts attacking the metal directly. When water is once again introduced into the boiler, the super (glowing?) hot and soften metal create instant superheated steam. The rapped expansion of said steam result is a spectacular explosion.
Norman Boyes indeed I do. "Train Wrecks" published 1968 Bonanza Books NY. By Robert C. Reed, Chapter 13 titled "Boiler Explosions" It goes on to say that it's most common that it's a result of "crown sheet failure."
There are MANY good books on steam power in the Internet Archive. I also recommend studying railway shop practice as it gives useful insight into operation and maintenance.
I have watched many of your videos and love them all. This video, is the most passionate I have heard you. Brings the question to mind that there could be a personal family connection to the Sultana disaster. I not saying there should be passion, or this not to be remembered. There was a passionate tone in your closing the drives home your very statement, that the Sultana Disaster, is history that truly does deserve, to be remembered.
Thank you history Guy. I have a series of American Heritage magazines in hard cover book form. In of the books it covers this history. Your the only other source I’ve ever heard concerning this incident. Thanks again. I love history too.
