Eliza Battle

The Eliza Battle was a Tombigbee River steamboat that ran a route between Columbus, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama in the United States during the 1850s.

It was the greatest maritime disaster in Tombigbee River history, with an estimated thirty-three people killed, out of roughly sixty passengers and a crew of forty-five.

One of the most luxurious riverboats plying the state's waters at that time, former President Millard Fillmore was entertained during a reception on board the ship in Mobile on April 7, 1854.

[1][5] At roughly 2 a.m. on March 1, 1858, about 32 miles (51 km) downriver from Demopolis, near Beckley’s Landing (32°17′05″N 87°55′40″W / 32.28486°N 87.92779°W / 32.28486; -87.92779), it was discovered that cotton bales on the main deck were on fire.

The Eliza Battle finally came to rest above Kemp's Landing (32°14′37″N 88°00′45″W / 32.24359°N 88.01238°W / 32.24359; -88.01238), near the modern Alabama State Route 114 bridge over the river near Pennington.