In the early hours of April 27th, 1865, mere days after the end of the Civil War, the Sultana burst into flames along the Mississippi River. The Sultana was a 260-foot-long wooden steamboat, built-in Cincinnati in 1863, which regularly transported passengers and freight between St. Louis and New Orleans on the Mississippi River.
On April 23, 1865, the vessel docked in Vicksburg to address issues with the boiler during a routine journey from New Orleans. While in port, it was contracted by the U.S. Government to carry former Union prisoners of war from Confederate prisons, such as Andersonville and Cahaba, back into Northern territory. In order to fulfill the lucrative contract, J. Cass Mason, the Sultana’s captain, opted to patch the leaky boiler rather than complete more extensive and time-consuming repairs. Fearing that his colleagues were taking bribes to transport prisoners on other boats, Union Army Captain George Williams, who oversaw the operation, hastily ordered that all former prisoners at the parole camp and hospital at Vicksburg be transported on the Sultana. Although it was designed to only hold 376 persons, more than 2,000 Union troops were crowded onto the steamboat - more than five times its legal carrying capacity. Despite concerns of overloading from several officers, Williams refused to divide the men, insisting that they travel on one vessel.
The Sultana steamed north up the Mississippi, but the severe overcrowding and faster river current caused by the spring thaw put increased pressure on its newly patched boilers. Shortly after leaving Memphis, Tennessee on April 27th, the overstrained boilers exploded, blowing apart the center of the boat and starting an uncontrollable fire. Many of those who were not killed immediately perished as they tried to swim to shore. Of the initial survivors, 200 later died from burns sustained during the incident. Records indicate that at least 1,800 men died, making the Sultana incident the deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history.
The many soldiers and prisoners of war, who were soldiers themselves were willing to fight and if necessary, give their lives in battle. Little did any of them know that they would meet their end in the midst of transport after the fighting had concluded. The lyrics this month are about how we truly have no idea when our time will come to an end.
lyrics
V1
Is nothing sacred in this world We scream at the sky As a virus runs its course Such is the Will of time
Bridge
Blunt force trauma Or the slow fade We've seen time Come for everyone, everything
Chorus
Time waits for no one To stone it has been scribed As crooked hands grip A weathered wooden scythe Time serves as council To face down the fear Life ever fleeting The heart is beating Till we can't hear
Breakdown
The time has come We are done Without any warning...
Our time will come
V2
Is there even reason to breathe And force-feed the lie Everything is under control Such is the Will of time
Bridge
Blunt force trauma Or the slow fade We've seen time Come for everyone, everything
Interlude
I've come to you. Wishing for an end There are few things in this life that I believe in I've come to you. Wishing for an end The only constant there to find is with life comes death
Chorus
Breakdown The time has come We are done Without any warning...
Our time will come The time is now I knew somehow This wasn't meant to last The time is now
INTRODUCTION:
"Unto the Wolves" is an online Metal project with one goal in mind, to inspire tolerance and acceptance of all races, religious beliefs, and cultures.
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