Civil War Veteran E.W. McIntosh's Ordeal on the Sultana and Post-War Life Detailed
Eppenetus Washington McIntosh, a veteran of the 14th Illinois Infantry, was among the Union prisoners of war who endured the catastrophic Sultana steamboat disaster on April 27, 1865. McIntosh, who had been confined in Andersonville prison, was accidentally left behind in Memphis after disembarking from another steamer, leading him to board the ill-fated Sultana. When the boilers exploded, he was thrown into the Mississippi River, where he struggled to survive amidst the chaos and drowning victims. He managed to float on pieces of wood and was eventually rescued, taken to Overton Hospital in Memphis. McIntosh believed the prolonged exposure to cold water helped cleanse his scurvy ulcers, potentially saving his feet from amputation. After his discharge in June 1865, McIntosh, who never fully regained the strength for manual labor, became a Methodist Episcopal minister, musician, and lecturer, frequently speaking about his wartime experiences. He remained active in veterans' organizations and the Sultana Sur... 
