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World at War Forum

The Sinking of the Sultana and 103rd OVI Genealogy

Overcrowded with soldiers, the sinking of the Sultana remains one of the worst maritime tragedies in U.S. History. Join Myra Palomeque and David Ressler, as they tell us about this tragedy.

The sinking of the Sultana steamship on April 27, 1865 remains the worst maritime disaster in United States history. The Sultana was overcrowded with over 2,100 passengers including 1,950 Union soldiers who were paroled prisoners of the confederacy. Myra Palomeque will be sharing her National History Day Exhibit on the sinking of the Sultana.  She will cover how she picked her topic, how the sinking of the Sultana fit the National History Day theme, she will share her research process, her personal connection to the Sultana, the details of the Sultana disaster and discuss the regional and state history day contests that she participated in.

By 1862, the American Civil War was not going well for the Union. Needing additional soldiers, President Lincoln put out the call for volunteers to serve in the Union army. Over 1000 men from the northern Ohio counties of Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina answered the call.  This unit was organized in Cleveland in August 1862 and became known as the 103rd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The 103rd saw action in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The regiment completed its service on June 12, 1865.  During its tour, 248 soldiers were killed as a result of their service. Despite its losses, the regiment’s outstanding war record and commendable service to the United States serves as a bright spot in American History. Dave Ressler will show his work with the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Museum, highlighting some of the local veterans of the 103rd. He will show and talk about using online genealogy tools to be able to create WikiTree profiles for Civil War soldiers and discuss WikiTree’s Civil War Project and ways to get involved. 

Bios:
Myra Palomeque is a Junior at Lutheran West High School.  Myra is a member of the National Honor Society. Myra participates in the Drum Line in both Marching Band and Concert Band at Lutheran West.  Myra started participating in History Day her freshman year creating the exhibit “Sí, Se Puede!” regarding the United Farm Workers of America.  Her project qualified for the State History Contest. This year, Myra’s exhibit on the Sultana Disaster placed at both the Regional and State History Day Contests as well as winning the Civil War Roundtable Award, the Grays Armory Award and the National Maritime Historical Society Award. Myra has one older sister and one younger brother and lives with her family in Avon Lake.  

Dave Ressler is the College Credit Plus U.S. History Teacher and History Day Coordinator at Lutheran West High School in Rocky River.  Dave is a graduate of Lutheran West, earned his Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and his Masters in U.S. History from American Military University. Dave is in his 32nd year of teaching and his classes have participated in History Day since 2012.  Dave started researching family history while at Kent State and over the past two years he has worked with Deb Wagner, the curator of the 103rd OVI Museum to create online profiles for each of the 1,105 veterans of the 103rd in order to inform the public and potential descendants about the 103rd Museum and Foundation. Dave and his wife Martha live in Fairview Park. 

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