This Day In Civil War History August 2, 1865 CSS Shenandoah learns the war is over

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2269 ^

[mainepatsfan]

August 2, 1865 CSS Shenandoah learns the war is over

The captain and crew of the C.S.S. Shenandoah, still prowling the waters of the Pacific in search of Yankee whaling ships, is finally informed by a British vessel that the South has lost the war.

The Shenandoah was the last major Confederate cruiser to set sail. Launched as a British vessel in September 1863, it was purchased by the Confederates and commissioned in October 1864. The 230-foot-long craft was armed with eight large guns and a crew of 73 sailors. Commanded by Captain James I. Waddell, the Shenandoah steered toward the Pacific and targeted Yankee whaling ships. Waddell enjoyed great success, taking six ships in the South Pacific before slipping into Melbourne, Australia, for repairs in January 1865.

Within a month, the Shenandoah was back on the loose, wreaking havoc in the waters around Alaska. The Rebel ship captured 32 additional Union vessels, most of which were burned. The damage was estimated at $1.6 million, a staggering figure in such a short period of time. Although the crew heard rumors that the Confederate armies had surrendered, Waddell continued to fight. He finally accepted an English captain's report on August 2, 1865. The Shenandoah pulled off another remarkable feat by sailing from the northern Pacific all the way to Liverpool, England, without stopping at any ports. Arriving on November 6, Waddell surrendered his ship to British officials.

[mainepatsfan]

I just finished an excellent book on this very topic called "Last Flag Down" by John Baldwin and Ron Powers.

[reg45]

Thanks for the info. As a result, I just requested that book as well as (”Sea of Gray” by Tom Chaffin on the same subject) from my local library.

[Vigilanteman]

Wow! The skipper sure was skeptical (and prudent). It doesn't say where he was in the northern Pacific when he learned the news, but rather than head for the nearest American port (maybe Seattle or San Francisco) to get his sailors home a.s.a.p., he sails for Liverpool to check the report out.

Of couse, maybe he wanted to sell the ship back now that the war was over.

[mainepatsfan]

They feared prosecution as pirates in the United States since they had burned American ships after the end of hostilities. When they sailed into Liverpool the British confined the crew to the ship for three days before deciding to let them go in spite of requests from American ambassador Adams that they be handed over to them.

[jalisco555]

I just finished an excellent book on this very topic called "Last Flag Down" by John Baldwin and Ron Powers.

Terrific book.

[Signalman]

Reminds me of the last Japanese soldier on found on Guam still fighting the war in the 1960s.

[Vigilanteman]

Great additidional information. Since the political power structure in place after Lincoln's assassination was of the recrimination mindset, it makes the skipper's actions even wiser. Lincoln would have been a great reconstruction president with his planned magnanimity to the South. Most, if not all, of that magnanimity in the political structure vanished after the assassination.

[SunkenCiv]

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[stlee2112]

You might enjoy checking out steve hites inside passage CD, he has a nice song about the C.S.S. Shenandoah. He did his research on the subject and brings the story to life in music.

The ship along with its sister ship the Alabama were acutally commisioned by the CSA and ownership transfered at sea to keep England neutral. Several great books as others have mentioned go into the story and I have seen the court case against the crew which was held in the UK posted as well. An interesting read if you want to know the rest of the story.