This forgotten piece of history was made into a documentary via a Kickstarter campaign where over $108,000 was raised. The Sultana was a boat carrying soldiers who had been interred in the Civil War POW camps of Andersonville and Cahaba. The 2,400 soldiers were loaded onto a boat meant to carry 376 people. On April 27, 1865, the boilers exploded killing 1,800 people. This tragedy was forgotten partly because it was overshadowed by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865 and the death of John Wilkes Boothe on April 26, 1865.
Mark Marshall decided to make a documentary about this event. In addition to Jim Michaels, Sean Astin and Matthew Eagan are co-executive producers on the film. Supernatural's Jim Beaver lends his voice as one of the actors on the documentary.
You can learn more about the film at the official website and the vimeo channel dedicated to the film. Jim Michaels talks about the Kickstarter campaign here. Updates can be found at the Facebook page for the documentary.
A private showing of this important film will be held April 27, 2015 during the activities surrounding the 150th anniversary of the Sultana tragedy.
Thank you both Jim Michaels and Jim Beaver for being part of honoring this forgotten, but important part of our history.
