National War Memorial Registry, War Memorial Catalog Of United States

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE 280 MICHIGAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN AMERICA'S WORST MARITIME DISASTER, THE SINKING OF THE STEAMSHIP "SULTANA." THESE MEN WERE AMONG THE MORE THAN 2,200 UNION SOLDIERS RETURNING HOME FROM CONFEDERATE PRISON CAMPS ON APRIL 27, 1865, WHEN THE VESSEL'S BOILERS EXPLODED AT 2:00AM ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. WE HONOR ALL WHO WERE ON THE "SULTAN" FOR THEIR COURAGE AND SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY.