UPPER LAKE >> April and May of 1865 had so many things going on in America, some major events just got lost in the shuffle. What else would explain that the greatest maritime disaster in American history was largely forgotten? The Sultana was a Mississippi River side-wheel steamboat and on April 27, 1865, the boat exploded. An estimated 1,800 of her 2,427 passengers died when three of the boat’s four boilers exploded and she burned to the waterline and sank near Memphis, Tennessee. This was hundreds more than died on the Titanic in 1912. But due to the recent fall of Richmond on April 3, the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s army at Appomattox on April 9, the assassination of Lincoln on April 14, and the killing of John Wilkes Booth the day before on April 26, the news of this great tragedy was largely lost in the epic events of the time.
What caused the explosion? Who was to blame? Who were the victims? These are some of the things to be explored at this month’s Redwood Empire’s Civil War Roundtable to be held May 4 at 6:15 p.m. at the historic Tallman Hotel in Old Town Upper Lake.
The other big event to be discussed is the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on May 10, 1865, near Irwinville, Georgia. Davis was attempting to escape capture and make it to Texas to carry on the fight against the North. He was put in leg irons and placed in a dungeon at Fort Monroe, Virginia, to await trial for treason for his efforts in leading the secession movement. He was imprisoned for 2 years while the government prepared a case against him. The trial was viewed as more than just about Jefferson Davis guilt or innocence. The whole concept of self-determination through secession was to be put on trial; if the South had the right to democratically secede, then the government had no authority to invade to force them back into the Union against their will, thus there would had been no treason. Davis felt confident he would win the legal argument in court that was obscured by the war. Ultimately, the case was dropped by the government. Did they drop it from fear of losing the legal argument, or was there a legitimate concern about putting Davis in double jeopardy? Jefferson Davis, as re-enacted by John Smoley, will be on hand to describe his capture, imprisonment, and preparation of the “Greatest Trial That Never Was.”
The Civil War Roundtable meets once a month to discuss topics related to that war, and is attempting to review the war month by month. The group was founded to coincide with the Sesquicentennial of the conflict. Topics are presented in a manner that can be enjoyed by novice and expert alike. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
For information, contact Phil Smoley at phils@countryair.com or 264-4905, or Zane Jensen at zjensen@lakeport.k12.ca.us or 349-6390.
