CSS Shenandoah

[RobertC]

The largely unknown boat that stalked global waters... The CSS Shenandoah was a notorious Confederate vessel that brought the Civil War around the globe, firing upon any merchants that were friendly to the "cursed Yankees." They brought the Civil War virtually everywhere, fighting in Alaska (owned by Russia at the time), India, and even off the Chinese and Japanese coasts. Then, British merchants told them the war really was over, Lee really had surrendered, and return to the U.S. certainly meant the hanging rope. So, the crew lowered the Stainless Banner one last time and disappeared into the bustling British Isles, and from the pages of history, abandoning their beloved ship. So says the legend of the ship christened "Shenandoah."

 

[Sivart]

It really is a peculiar thing how the Shenandoah disappeared.
Captain Waddell decided to sail the ship to Liverpool, England, where they could safely surrender to the British. They took down the Confederate flag, scuttled the ship, and abandoned it in August 1865. The crew disbanded, and the ship was left to rot.
After that, the Shenandoah basically vanished from history. There were reports that the wreck was eventually sold off for scrap, and the ship was probably broken up, but no one really knows for sure what happened to the wreckage. The crew scattered, and the story of the ship was pretty much forgotten, until much later when historians pieced together its strange and dramatic end. It was likely sold for scrap, leaving little trace behind. It's one of those stories that's partly lost to time.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It really is a peculiar thing how the Shenandoah disappeared.

After several months of laying listless in Liverpool, England, the Shenandoah was eventually purchased by the Sultan of Zanzibar for his personal yacht. According to Chester Hearn ('Gray Raiders of the Seas' at p. 301), ...'The vessel later reappeared in the sea trade,.....In 1879, a storm in the Indian Ocean hurled her upon a coral reef and ripped open her hull, taking the lives of all but five of the crew.'...

 

[rebelatsea]

It really is a peculiar thing how the Shenandoah disappeared.
Captain Waddell decided to sail the ship to Liverpool, England, where they could safely surrender to the British. They took down the Confederate flag, scuttled the ship, and abandoned it in August 1865. The crew disbanded, and the ship was left to rot.
After that, the Shenandoah basically vanished from history. There were reports that the wreck was eventually sold off for scrap, and the ship was probably broken up, but no one really knows for sure what happened to the wreckage. The crew scattered, and the story of the ship was pretty much forgotten, until much later when historians pieced together its strange and dramatic end. It was likely sold for scrap, leaving little trace behind. It's one of those stories that's partly lost to time.

The City of Melbourne Victoria Australia, who virtually adopted ship and crew, asked if they could have her guns, whether a gift or paid for I don't know. They were mounted in a seafront park until relatively recently until the area was redeveloped. If we have any Australian members they may know more of their current whereabouts .

 

[JerryD]

The largely unknown boat that stalked global waters... The CSS Shenandoah was a notorious Confederate vessel that brought the Civil War around the globe, firing upon any merchants that were friendly to the "cursed Yankees." They brought the Civil War virtually everywhere, fighting in Alaska (owned by Russia at the time), India, and even off the Chinese and Japanese coasts. Then, British merchants told them the war really was over, Lee really had surrendered, and return to the U.S. certainly meant the hanging rope. So, the crew lowered the Stainless Banner one last time and disappeared into the bustling British Isles, and from the pages of history, abandoning their beloved ship. So says the legend of the ship christened "Shenandoah." View attachment 529873

Not my area of interest, admittedly, but I seem to remember that the crew of the Shenandoah had practically not Americans other than the officers, and was composed mainly of British subjects. Is that right? If so, perhaps that was another consideration in ending their service in Britain.

 

[Pollaco]

Interesting but I think I would have left out the word "unknown". I may be wrong but was it really unknown? I'm guessing the Yankees were well aware of her.

 

[Saruman]

The City of Melbourne Victoria Australia, who virtually adopted ship and crew, asked if they could have her guns, whether a gift or paid for I don't know. They were mounted in a seafront park until relatively recently until the area was redeveloped. If we have any Australian members they may know more of their current whereabouts .

I'm afraid that story is a myth.

When it was commissioned on the high seas as a Confederate Navy merchant raider, 14th October 1864, Shenandoah was armed with
four 8 inch smooth bore cannon, two 32 pounder muzzle-loaded rifled cannon and two 12-pounder smooth bore cannon.

The Melbourne cannons appear to be 3-pounders and so were not part of the initial weaponry of Shenandoah, and they date from a much earlier period, Napoleonic or 18th Century. They also can't be prizes as the eight ships captured by Shenandoah prior to the Melbourne visit were without cannon.

 

[RobertC]

Interesting but I think I would have left out the word "unknown". I may be wrong but was it really unknown? I'm guessing the Yankees were well aware of her.

The Yanks were well aware, but she is largely unknown today in the sense Civil War historians don't focus on naval battle that much.

 

[R. Porter]

A good book on the Shenandoah:

Amazon.com

If I recall correctly, when they surrendered to the British anyone claiming British citizenship would be arrested on the spot as a pirate so every man claimed to be a citizen of the Confederate States and they all walked. Even those with the thickest British accents. I think they considered attacking San Francisco. After the war I think one of the ship's officers became a railroad or banking executive in Virginia.

 

[USS ALASKA]

CSS Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/30/victorian-library-seeks-american-civil-war-diary-chronicling-australian-link-Shenandoah Cheers, USS ALASKA

civilwartalk.com

CSS Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

@Rebelsoul Sir, given your comments on the other thread, these may be of interest to you. 8 Bells Lecture | Dwight Hughes: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah usnavalwarcollege Published on Jan 21, 2016 Dwight Hughes, "A Confederate Biography: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah," Eight Bells...

civilwartalk.com

CSS Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

"In conclusion, “Would You Believe?” that the visit of the Confederate warship Shenandoah to Melbourne in 1856 would lead to the development of the Victorian colonial navy, giving rise to the need for a Victorian naval ensign that evolved into the current Australian National Flag. Ralph...

civilwartalk.com

A Confederate Biography -- Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Hughes: A confederate Biography; The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah Naval Institute Press, Dec. '15 "Her officers were the descendants of Deep South plantation aristocracy and Old Dominion first families: a nephew of Robert E. Lee, a grandnephew of founder George Mason, and descendants of one of...

civilwartalk.com

The Shenandoah Ball | Artwork

While the ship was undergoing repairs, Officers of the CSS Shenandoah attended a ball in their honour in the gold rush town of Ballarat (nowadays an hour and half drive from Melbourne). The ball was held at Craig's Hotel (now Craig's Royal Hotel as a result of royal patronage). I had to go to...

civilwartalk.com

What was Russia's reaction to the CSS Shenandoah's raids? | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

The Shenandoah ended up attacking Yankee whalers in waters very close to both Russia's Siberian territory and Russian Alaska. Did Russia (or local Russian officials) have any sort of public reaction to this? What about Russian ships in those waters? Were there any measures taken by them to try...

civilwartalk.com

Civil War Naval Papers | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

East Carolina University The ScholarShip 1999-08 "One good port": the Union Navy and Beaufort Harbor, NC, 1862-1865 Blair, William Danford https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/bitstreams/4e75e081-4b9d-4344-9f91-af2c4465dc91/download Please use above link. Cheers, USS ALASKA

civilwartalk.com

I think they considered attacking San Francisco.

The CSS Shenandoah almost attacked San Francisco | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

James Iredell Waddell, commander of the CSS Shenandoah, was heading towards San Francisco to attack it, believing it to be weakened on August 3rd, 1865 when a British Barque, the Barracouta informed it of the capture of Jefferson Davis and the inevitable defeat of the Confederacy. If this did...

civilwartalk.com

Civil War Naval Papers | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program PROJECT NUMBER (94-1704) USS Tecumseh Shipwreck: Management Plan W. Wilson West, Jr. 1996 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & INTRODUCTION Early on the morning of August 5, 1864, fourteen-wooden steam warships, lashed in pairs, followed four...

civilwartalk.com

If I recall correctly, when they surrendered to the British anyone claiming British citizenship would be arrested on the spot as a pirate so every man claimed to be a citizen of the Confederate States and they all walked.

Liverpool Mercury Thursday 9th Nov. 1865.

THE SHENANDOAH. PAROLE OF THE CREW.

The government have at length taken a decided step in regard to the crew of this vessel. For the last two days the authorities in Liverpool have been in communication with the Secretary of State in reference to the detention of the ship and her crew. The Government seem to have been decided as to the necessity of retaining the vessel, pending an inquiry as to the action which her commander and crew have taken during the last few months, but there seems to have been some doubt as to the proper course to adopt with reference to the men on board. On inquiry at the Custom House yesterday morning, we were informed that the authorities had not received further instructions as to the vessel or her crew.

However, about 6 o'clock last night a telegram was received from Government by Captain Paynter, of her Majesty's ship Donegal, to whom the Shenandoah was surrendered, that the whole of the officers and crew, who were not British subjects were to be immediately paroled. Captain Paynter immediately proceeded to the Rock Ferry slip, and applied for a steamboat. The Rock Ferry steamer Bee was placed at his disposal by Mr. Thwaites, in which he immediately proceeded alongside the Shenandoah. Captain Paynter went on board and communicated to the officers the object of his visit. The crew were mustered on the quarterdeck by the officers of the ship, the roll book was brought out, and the names of the men called out as they occurred. As each man answered to his name he was asked what countryman he was. In not one instance did any of them acknowledge to be British citizens. Many nations were represented among them, but the majority claimed to be natives of the Southern States of America or "Southern citizens". Several of those however, who purported to be Americans, had an unmistakably Scotch accent, and seemed more likely to have hailed from the banks of the Clyde than the Mississippi. Captain Paynter informed the men that by order of the Government they were all paroled, and might proceed at once to shore. This intelligence was received by the men with every demonstration of joy, and they seemed to be delighted at the prospect of leaving the craft in which they had hoped to be able to assist the Southern Confederacy. They commenced to pack up their bedding and other articles as fast as possible, and conveyed on board the Bee, which was to take them to the landing stage. Before leaving the vessel, however, they gave three lusty cheers, for Captain Waddell, their late commander. Captain Waddell, in feeling terms, acknowledged the compliment, and said that he hoped the men would always behave themselves, as brave sailors ought to do. The men then went aboard the Bee, and were conveyed to the landing stage. This separated the Shenandoah and her crew, and the vessel now rides at anchor in the Sloyne in charge of some men from the Donegal, under the command of Lieutenant Cheek.

<b>When Liverpool Was Dixie</b>

The amazing and largely forgotten Liverpool connection with the Confederate States of America, via J.D.Bulloch and ships he provided

web.archive.org

After the war I think one of the ship's officers became a railroad or banking executive in Virginia.

First Lieutenant and Executive Officer, W.C. Whittle returned home to Virginia from Buenos Aires in 1867. Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1840, an 1858 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an officer in the U.S. Navy before resigning his commission to accept a commission in the Confederate States Navy, Whittle was appointed captain of one of the Bay line steamers running between Baltimore, Norfolk and Portsmouth in 1868 shortly after returning to Virginia and continued in this capacity until 1890. After, he was a Superintendent for the Norfolk and Western Railway Company. In 1902, he became an organizer of the Virginia Bank and Trust Company, Virginia Bank and Trust Building, and served as its vice president and one of its directors thereafter.

Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 35., The cruise of the Shenandoah.

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[rebelatsea]

I'm afraid that story is a myth.

When it was commissioned on the high seas as a Confederate Navy merchant raider, 14th October 1864, Shenandoah was armed with
four 8 inch smooth bore cannon, two 32 pounder muzzle-loaded rifled cannon and two 12-pounder smooth bore cannon.

The Melbourne cannons appear to be 3-pounders and so were not part of the initial weaponry of Shenandoah, and they date from a much earlier period, Napoleonic or 18th Century. They also can't be prizes as the eight ships captured by Shenandoah prior to the Melbourne visit were without cannon.

Thank you for that, I did ask a friend of mine who lives near Belgrave if he could confirm. He knew of the weapons but nothing of the details

 

[Old Soldier]

The crew
As I have said before in other threads, the most important thing to remember is this was basically a full-rigged ship with an auxilliary engine and the crew needed to be experienced seamen. It already had that crew when purchased covertly by the Confederacy and it set sail under the Red Ensign*. Whether they knew about the change of ownership is debatable.

* The Red Ensign is the British merchant navy flag. The Union Flag is NOT flown at sea. It is flown on the jackstaff (bow) by RN ships in harbour, hence the other name Union Jack)

All crews of British civilian commercial sailing ships at this time were a mix of nationalities. Many foreigners would understand enough English to work with others on British ships and would have the necessary skills to work the ship and survive at sea. They usually signed on for one voyage and were paid on their return to the port of origin. Once the money was spent, they were first in line for the next job.

Like most of the other Confederate ships, it was converted in or near Spanish territories before being commissioned and sworn Confederate officers and senior NCOs posted. Since there was little or no likelyhood of getting a Confederate crew the existing crew was given certain reassurances of prize money, etc. to keep them. This, of course was made so much easier by the fact there was little chance of getting any passage back home on a working crew from their current location. It is reported that the crew 'volunteered', but whether that involved swearing allegiance is debatable - and unlikely, as no civilian seaman was made to swear allegiance to the flag they sailed under. In any case, Shenandoah was way undermanned as it was.

So how did they get paroled? After a full investigation by law officers of the Crown, it was decided that the officers and crew did not infringe the rules of war or the laws of nations to justify being held as prisoners, so they were unconditionally released. As British citizens they could have faced charges of Piracy under The Piracy Act 1837, which included 'piracy with violence', punishable with death.

Since there was no passport or ID for seamen at that time, they could say what they liked. No one admitted to being British citizens. They were taken by their word. It was known the USA had taken any number of immigrants from the British Isles in the years preceding the Civil War, so it must have been assumed they would have retained much of their regional accents. Were they advised not to say they were British?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Shenandoah dealt a crippling blow to the American whaling fleet in the Pacific.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Shenandoah dealt a crippling blow to the American whaling fleet in the Pacific.

The Confederacy hastened the collapse of the American whaling industry but the decline was inevitable. Up to and including the ACW, the poor used candles, lanterns used oil - whale oil - and the privileged used town gas where and when available. Before the electrification of the world, kerosene lamps were the preferred method of lighting, and kerosene was much cheaper than whale oil. Abraham Gesner came up with an alternative for whale oil, distilled from coal in 1846. Once the distillate of kerosene was extracted from petroleum, it quickly became the popular lighting fuel. The crude oil was collected from seeps where it rose to the surface of the ground naturally. Advanced forms of the kerosene lamp were fabricated by Polish inventor Ignacy Łukasiewicz in 1853. Lamps had been created to use this source but a bountiful supply of crude wasn't discovered and exploited commercially until 'Colonel' Edwin Laurentine Drake's well came in on August, 1859. There are other prior claims such as wells in Azerbaijan, Ontario, West Virginia, Myanmar, Persia, Arabia, Sichuan and Poland. Drake's is the best known. The problem, which we have to this day, was transportation - getting the crude from where it was found to the places it could be most used. The ACW put a damper on the growth and capitalization of this industry using the anciently known resource that was looked upon as a nuisance if not worse. Modern chemistry was about to change all that. Post ACW, by the end of the 1860s, kerosene had almost completely driven whale oil from the economy and had taken a dominating position from the town gas / coal gas market. Before the advent of the automobile, the big product that spurred the oil industry was kerosene. The only other whale product used by America was the bones / baleen. The meat was discarded. As a sidelight, along with the ravages of Confederate Commerce Raiders, without the oil revolution, the continued mass slaughter and over-harvesting of marine mammals, (and not just by the US), forced its own market correction to the size of the whaling fleets.

The American whaling fleet, after steadily growing for 50 years, reached its all-time peak of 199,000 tons in 1858. Just two years later, in 1860, just before the Civil War, the fleet had dropped to 167,000 tons. The war cut into whaling temporarily, but only 105,000 whaling tons returned to sea in 1866, the first full year of peace, and that number dwindled until only 39 American ships set out to hunt whales in 1876.

US Bureau of the Census, 1960, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1957, p.445.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Old Soldier]

The Confederacy hastened the collapse of the American whaling industry but the decline was inevitable. Up to and including the ACW, the poor used candles, lanterns used oil - whale oil - and the privileged used town gas where and when available. Before the electrification of the world, kerosene lamps were the preferred method of lighting, and kerosene was much cheaper than whale oil. Abraham Gesner came up with an alternative for whale oil, distilled from coal in 1846. Once the distillate of kerosene was extracted from petroleum, it quickly became the popular lighting fuel. The crude oil was collected from seeps where it rose to the surface of the ground naturally. Advanced forms of the kerosene lamp were fabricated by Polish inventor Ignacy Łukasiewicz in 1853. Lamps had been created to use this source but a bountiful supply of crude wasn't discovered and exploited commercially until 'Colonel' Edwin Laurentine Drake's well came in on August, 1859. There are other prior claims such as wells in Azerbaijan, Ontario, West Virginia, Myanmar, Persia, Arabia, Sichuan and Poland. Drake's is the best known. The problem, which we have to this day, was transportation - getting the crude from where it was found to the places it could be most used. The ACW put a damper on the growth and capitalization of this industry using the anciently known resource that was looked upon as a nuisance if not worse. Modern chemistry was about to change all that. Post ACW, by the end of the 1860s, kerosene had almost completely driven whale oil from the economy and had taken a dominating position from the town gas / coal gas market. Before the advent of the automobile, the big product that spurred the oil industry was kerosene. The only other whale product used by America was the bones / baleen. The meat was discarded. As a sidelight, along with the ravages of Confederate Commerce Raiders, without the oil revolution, the continued mass slaughter and over-harvesting of marine mammals, (and not just by the US), forced its own market correction to the size of the whaling fleets.

The American whaling fleet, after steadily growing for 50 years, reached its all-time peak of 199,000 tons in 1858. Just two years later, in 1860, just before the Civil War, the fleet had dropped to 167,000 tons. The war cut into whaling temporarily, but only 105,000 whaling tons returned to sea in 1866, the first full year of peace, and that number dwindled until only 39 American ships set out to hunt whales in 1876.

US Bureau of the Census, 1960, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1957, p.445.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Just to emphasise the point, we have talked about the 'new' steam engines and locomotives and mentioned the importance of OIL on the moving parts. This was initially either animal fats and oils or vegetable oil, especially - castor oil. Much was made in the descriptions of these machines by those who described them but the emphasis in early writing was the smell of castor oil. In fact, it is still a constituent of many lubricating oils today! Beef tallow was also used in the early days, but it's acidic content tended to rust the iron components. Whale oil did not cause this corrosion so was used more readily and it's use extended to all forms of machinery.
The growing discovery and processing mineral oils (crude oil) were far cheaper and, in many cases, better lubricants and gradually took over from the animal oils, although a certain amount of vegetable oil was still, is still, used as part of a lubricating oil mix.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

CSS Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/30/victorian-library-seeks-american-civil-war-diary-chronicling-australian-link-Shenandoah Cheers, USS ALASKA

civilwartalk.com

CSS Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

@Rebelsoul Sir, given your comments on the other thread, these may be of interest to you. 8 Bells Lecture | Dwight Hughes: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah usnavalwarcollege Published on Jan 21, 2016 Dwight Hughes, "A Confederate Biography: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah," Eight Bells...

civilwartalk.com

CSS Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

"In conclusion, “Would You Believe?” that the visit of the Confederate warship Shenandoah to Melbourne in 1856 would lead to the development of the Victorian colonial navy, giving rise to the need for a Victorian naval ensign that evolved into the current Australian National Flag. Ralph...

civilwartalk.com

A Confederate Biography -- Shenandoah | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Hughes: A confederate Biography; The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah Naval Institute Press, Dec. '15 "Her officers were the descendants of Deep South plantation aristocracy and Old Dominion first families: a nephew of Robert E. Lee, a grandnephew of founder George Mason, and descendants of one of...

civilwartalk.com

The Shenandoah Ball | Artwork

While the ship was undergoing repairs, Officers of the CSS Shenandoah attended a ball in their honour in the gold rush town of Ballarat (nowadays an hour and half drive from Melbourne). The ball was held at Craig's Hotel (now Craig's Royal Hotel as a result of royal patronage). I had to go to...

civilwartalk.com

What was Russia's reaction to the CSS Shenandoah's raids? | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

The Shenandoah ended up attacking Yankee whalers in waters very close to both Russia's Siberian territory and Russian Alaska. Did Russia (or local Russian officials) have any sort of public reaction to this? What about Russian ships in those waters? Were there any measures taken by them to try...

civilwartalk.com

Civil War Naval Papers | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

East Carolina University The ScholarShip 1999-08 "One good port": the Union Navy and Beaufort Harbor, NC, 1862-1865 Blair, William Danford https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/bitstreams/4e75e081-4b9d-4344-9f91-af2c4465dc91/download Please use above link. Cheers, USS ALASKA

civilwartalk.com

The CSS Shenandoah almost attacked San Francisco | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

James Iredell Waddell, commander of the CSS Shenandoah, was heading towards San Francisco to attack it, believing it to be weakened on August 3rd, 1865 when a British Barque, the Barracouta informed it of the capture of Jefferson Davis and the inevitable defeat of the Confederacy. If this did...

civilwartalk.com

Civil War Naval Papers | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program PROJECT NUMBER (94-1704) USS Tecumseh Shipwreck: Management Plan W. Wilson West, Jr. 1996 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & INTRODUCTION Early on the morning of August 5, 1864, fourteen-wooden steam warships, lashed in pairs, followed four...

civilwartalk.com

Liverpool Mercury Thursday 9th Nov. 1865.

THE SHENANDOAH. PAROLE OF THE CREW.

The government have at length taken a decided step in regard to the crew of this vessel. For the last two days the authorities in Liverpool have been in communication with the Secretary of State in reference to the detention of the ship and her crew. The Government seem to have been decided as to the necessity of retaining the vessel, pending an inquiry as to the action which her commander and crew have taken during the last few months, but there seems to have been some doubt as to the proper course to adopt with reference to the men on board. On inquiry at the Custom House yesterday morning, we were informed that the authorities had not received further instructions as to the vessel or her crew.

However, about 6 o'clock last night a telegram was received from Government by Captain Paynter, of her Majesty's ship Donegal, to whom the Shenandoah was surrendered, that the whole of the officers and crew, who were not British subjects were to be immediately paroled. Captain Paynter immediately proceeded to the Rock Ferry slip, and applied for a steamboat. The Rock Ferry steamer Bee was placed at his disposal by Mr. Thwaites, in which he immediately proceeded alongside the Shenandoah. Captain Paynter went on board and communicated to the officers the object of his visit. The crew were mustered on the quarterdeck by the officers of the ship, the roll book was brought out, and the names of the men called out as they occurred. As each man answered to his name he was asked what countryman he was. In not one instance did any of them acknowledge to be British citizens. Many nations were represented among them, but the majority claimed to be natives of the Southern States of America or "Southern citizens". Several of those however, who purported to be Americans, had an unmistakably Scotch accent, and seemed more likely to have hailed from the banks of the Clyde than the Mississippi. Captain Paynter informed the men that by order of the Government they were all paroled, and might proceed at once to shore. This intelligence was received by the men with every demonstration of joy, and they seemed to be delighted at the prospect of leaving the craft in which they had hoped to be able to assist the Southern Confederacy. They commenced to pack up their bedding and other articles as fast as possible, and conveyed on board the Bee, which was to take them to the landing stage. Before leaving the vessel, however, they gave three lusty cheers, for Captain Waddell, their late commander. Captain Waddell, in feeling terms, acknowledged the compliment, and said that he hoped the men would always behave themselves, as brave sailors ought to do. The men then went aboard the Bee, and were conveyed to the landing stage. This separated the Shenandoah and her crew, and the vessel now rides at anchor in the Sloyne in charge of some men from the Donegal, under the command of Lieutenant Cheek.

<b>When Liverpool Was Dixie</b>

The amazing and largely forgotten Liverpool connection with the Confederate States of America, via J.D.Bulloch and ships he provided

web.archive.org

First Lieutenant and Executive Officer, W.C. Whittle returned home to Virginia from Buenos Aires in 1867. Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1840, an 1858 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an officer in the U.S. Navy before resigning his commission to accept a commission in the Confederate States Navy, Whittle was appointed captain of one of the Bay line steamers running between Baltimore, Norfolk and Portsmouth in 1868 shortly after returning to Virginia and continued in this capacity until 1890. After, he was a Superintendent for the Norfolk and Western Railway Company. In 1902, he became an organizer of the Virginia Bank and Trust Company, Virginia Bank and Trust Building, and served as its vice president and one of its directors thereafter.

Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 35., The cruise of the Shenandoah.

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

Thank you @USS ALASKA !

I was about post the same links.

To me ... the CSS Shenandoah is actually more interesting than the CSS Alabama.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I'm afraid that story is a myth.

The cannons may be a myth, but the fact that the ship and crew were "rock stars" during their stop in Melbourne
is very well documented.

 

[Saruman]

The cannons may be a myth, but the fact that the ship and crew were "rock stars" during their stop in Melbourne
is very well documented.

Yes, if you are ever visiting Victoria I would recommend staying at Craig's Royal Hotel in Ballarat. This is where the officers of the Shenandoah were celebrated with a grand ball and were also given a tour of the local gold mines. The hotel has a majestic painting of the Shenandoah and a plaque to honor the visit. You can stay in the same rooms that Captain Waddell and the officers used.

 

[G Low]

Last Flag Down good book.

 

[RollAlabamaRoll]

The Yanks were well aware, but she is largely unknown today in the sense Civil War historians don't focus on naval battle that much.

Agreed, I've spent the last year or two studying the overseas naval/diplomatic affairs and it's a field that certainly is overlooked. Although I think the commerce raiders are a bit embellished, while they certainly did do a blow to American commerce, it's not as much as one might think it is from the tales and legends of the raiders. I did the math sometime back and it was only about 150-200 vessels destroyed. While very impressive, America was able to bounce back from these losses fairly quickly. I've made various posts here mostly about the Shenandoah and Alabama if you want to learn some interesting facts or some knowledge.

"Sea of Gray" by Tom Chaffin is a great book about the Shenandoah if you want to learn more about the vessel's history.