This day in history - April 27
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:46 am
1805 - U.S. Marines captured the city of Derna or Derne, in the kingdom of Tripoli. It was the first U.S. military action on foreign soil. It is commemorated as "the shores of Tripoli" in the Marine Corps anthem.
1865 - The steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, killing around 1,800, mostly liberated Union prisoners of war. Conspiracy theories emerged immediately. They were never proven, but they have their adherents to this day.
This incident was the deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history, worse than the sinking of Titanic.
- Jim

1865 - The steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, killing around 1,800, mostly liberated Union prisoners of war. Conspiracy theories emerged immediately. They were never proven, but they have their adherents to this day.
This incident was the deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history, worse than the sinking of Titanic.
- Jim