07/22/2026
🌟SULTANA SOLDIER SPOTLIGHT🌟
Private Simeon Mallison was captured at Athens, Alabama, on September 25, 1864, and sent to Cahaba Prison near Selma AL. He was released in the spring of 1865 and, with other newly freed prisoners of war, traveled to Camp Fisk in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the designated exchange camp. There, he waited for transportation up the Mississippi River to Cairo, Illinois, and then on to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio.
Simeon’s letter to his sister Jo, dated April 14, 1865, and written while in Vicksburg, has been carefully preserved by Michigan State University. In it, he writes that he has been held in a prison camp but is doing well. He mentions being underfed at times but offers little additional detail about his treatment. Simeon also expresses excitement that the war is ending so he can return home and collect his pay. Here's the link to the full letter: https://d.lib.msu.edu/cwc-mallisonfamily/22
Tragically, Simeon did not survive the explosion of the Sultana’s boilers or the cold, turbulent waters of the Mississippi River, and his body was never recovered.
It was an honor to meet this brave soldier’s descendants. We are grateful they traveled from Michigan to visit our museum and learn more about what their ancestor likely experienced during this difficult period in American history.
We hope to welcome them again when our new museum opens on November 14, 2026, featuring new displays and exhibits that further illuminate the worst maritime disaster in our history.
