[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 329 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 329

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        April 27, 2009.
Whereas the explosion of the SS Sultana on April 27, 1865, is considered the 
        worst maritime disaster in American history;
Whereas the steamboat ship SS Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River 7 miles 
        north of Memphis, Tennessee, at 2:00 a.m.;
Whereas roughly 1,800 of the 2,400 passengers lost their lives in the tragedy;
Whereas 2,000 passengers on the SS Sultana at the time of the explosion were 
        Union prisoners of war recently released from the Confederate 
        Andersonville and Cahaba Prison Camps in Alabama;
Whereas several of the former prisoners of war were suffering from disease and 
        extreme malnutrition caused by the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions 
        at the prison camps;
Whereas the explosion was presumed to have been caused by a defective boiler 
        trying to overcome the current of the Mississippi River;
Whereas the enormous loss of life was attributed to an overcrowded vessel caused 
        in part by poor oversight on behalf of the Union commanding officers 
        responsible for the release of the prisoners of war;
Whereas up to 300 of the initial survivors of the explosion later died from 
        burns, hypothermia, or exposure;
Whereas then Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton stated in his annual report for 
        1865 that the loss of ``over 1200 officers and soldiers--a loss greatly 
        increased . . . by an improper and unnecessary overloading of the 
        boat'';
Whereas only one of the several individuals responsible for the conditions of 
        the steamer or the overcrowding of the vessel which contributed to the 
        tragedy and large loss of life was ever prosecuted; and
Whereas the disaster received little attention in the newspapers or magazines of 
        the time and is scarcely remembered today: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 144-year anniversary of the tragic accident of 
        the steamboat ship SS Sultana;
            (2) honors the memory of the soldiers and passengers who lost their 
        lives in this disaster;
            (3) regrets the lack of military and civilian oversight that led to 
        the explosion and tremendous loss of life; and
            (4) rededicates itself to honoring all our veterans and military 
        families with the highest level of support in quality resources, 
        equipment and services.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.