LOSS OF THE SULTANA - REMINISCENCES OF SURVIVORS
William H. WILLIAMS
I WAS born in Moscow, Mich., December 4, 1842, and enlisted in the service of the
United States at Moscow, August 15, 1862, in Company F, 18th Regiment Michigan
Volunteer Infantry. Was captured at Athens, Ala., September 24, 1864, hustled
across the country to Cherokee Station, there put on board some cattle cars and
taken to Corinth, Miss. From there was taken to Meridian, thence to Selma, Ala.,
and then down the river to Cahaba. Was kept there until about the 10th of April
on corn meal, ground cob and all. We were robbed of everything we had that was
good for anything. From Cahaba we were taken to Meridian and from there to
Jackson, Miss., and so on through Big Black river, in the rear of Vicksburg.
I think it was about the 25th of April, 1865, that we crowded aboard the
ill-fated "Sultana" and started up the river for "home, sweet home," but through
some carelessness or devilishness many poor comrades were destined never to see
their homes. On the 28th (27th) the boat exploded one of her boilers, caught
fire and about 1,800 poor souls were launched into eternity and many a comrade's
hopes were blasted. I for one was lucky and landed in the top of a cottonwood
tree. At daybreak some "Johnnies" came and got me in a dugout, took me to the
Arkansas side and cared for me the best they could.
My present occupation is buggy-dealer; postoffice, Jonesville, Mich.
(Reminiscences also linked in Full List of Men)
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