Description April 27, 1865...the American Civil War is over and thousands of soldiers head for home, more than 2,000 of them packed on the paddle-wheel steamer 'Sultana' which only had a legal capacity of 376. Many of them were former prisoners of the Confederates and weak and ill from captivity. Around 2 AM three of the ship's four boilers exploded killing an estimated 1,6000 people out of the 2,400 believed to be on board making it the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history. This scene depicts the tragedy shortly after 2 AM as passengers scramble to flee the burning craft, risking the icy waters and hoping for rescue. Created by Civil War author/artist/documentary filmmaker Scott Freiheit.
Scott Freiheit Member Since June 2013 Artist Statement When I was a child I loved drawing and painting, especially military themed subjects, but as I got older my artistic interests shifted to writing, music and film-making. Recently I was working on a Civil War documentary and wanted something different than the same old photos and paintings that everyone uses so I started creating graphics again.
These days I use a computer instead of traditional brushes and canvas but I guess I've come full circle as an artist because I'm exploring the same material that captivated me in my youth...and having a blast doing it!