Today, April 27th is the 136th anniversary of the explosion on the steamship SULTANA in the Mississippi. Approximately 1800 people perished in the tradegy. That is more than the 1500+ who died in the TITANIC sinking. Most of the victims were released USA prisoners of war from Southern prison camps. Almost 400 were registered as from the State of Tennessee. They served in the 2nd and 3rd Tennessee Voluntary Cavalry, USA. Less known is the fact that at least 25 of those serving with the Tennessee Troops were from Alabama. They were mostly from St. Clair, Etowah and Blount Counties. Several died in the wreck. Saturday, April 28th, 2001, there will be a reunion of descendants of victims and survivors at the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Knoxville, TN where a monument to the Sultana victims was erected. Respectfully, George C. Beason, great grandson of James David Baggett and great great nephew of Lewis A. Deerman, both survivors.