CSS Shenandoah: Difference between revisions

|Ship builder = *[[Alexander Stephen and Sons|Alexander Stephen & Sons]], * [[River Clyde]], [[Scotland]]

|Ship yard number = 42<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=3080 |title=ssSS SEASea KINGKing |last1=Cameron |first1=Stuart |website=Clydebuilt Ships Database |publisher=Clydebuilt Ships Database |access-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305203057/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=3080 |archive-date=5 March 2014 }}</ref>

|Ship tonnage=1018 grt, 790 nrt

|Ship displacement=1160 tons (1052 tonnes)

''Shenandoah'' was originally a British [[merchant ship]] launched as ''Sea King'' on August 17, 1863, but was later repurposed as one of the most feared [[commerce raiding|commerce raiders]] in the [[Confederate Navy]]. For twelve-and-a-half months from 1864 to 1865, the ship undertook commerce raiding around the world in an effort to disrupt the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union's]]'s economy, which resulted in the capturecapturing and the sinking or [[ransom bond|bonding]] of 38 merchant vessels, mostly [[Whaler|whaling ships]] from [[New Bedford, Massachusetts]]. She finally surrendered on the [[River Mersey]], [[Liverpool]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]], on November 6, 1865, six months after the war had ended. Her flag was the last sovereign [[Confederate flag]] to be officially furled.

The ship had three names and many owners in her lifetime of nine years. She was designed as an auxiliary composite passenger cargo ship of 1,018 [[Tonnage|tons]] and built in 1863 by Alexander Stephen & Sons, [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], for Robertson & Co., Glasgow, to be named ''Sea King''. The ship was intended for the [[East Asia]] tea trade and as a [[Troopship|troop transport]]. While she was being fitted out at the builders, US representatives assessed the ship for purchase.<ref name="wrecksite.eu">[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?59741#87503 SS ''El Majidi''] Wrecksite</ref> After change of owner and a number of trips to the Far East carrying cargo and to New Zealand transporting troops to the [[New Zealand Wars]], the Confederate navy assessed and purchased her from Wallace Bros of Liverpool. The purchase was, made in secret; it, was completed on 18 October 1864, and the next day the ship was renamed CSS ''Shenandoah''. The ship was to be converted into an armed [[Cruiser#Steam cruisers|cruiser]] with a mission to capture and destroy [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] merchant ships.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}} Liverpool was the unofficial home port of the Confederate overseas fleet, and Confederate Commander [[James Dunwoody Bulloch]] was based in the city. The city provided ships, crews, munitions, and provisions of war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk/index.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-01-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413005857/http://www.whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk/index.htm |archive-date=2014-04-13 }}</ref>

''Sea King'' had sailed from London on 8 October 1864, ostensibly for [[Bombay]], on a trading voyage. The supply steamer ''Laurel'' sailed from Liverpool the same day. The two ships rendezvoused at [[Funchal]], [[Madeira]], with ''Laurel'' carrying the officers and the nucleus of ''Shenandoah''{{'}}s crew, together with naval guns, ammunition, and ship's stores. ''Shenandoah''{{'}}s commander, Lieutenant [[James Iredell Waddell]], supervised her conversion to a [[man-of-war]] in nearby waters. However, Waddell was barely able to bring his crew to even half strength, despite additional volunteers from the merchant sailors on ''Sea King'' and from ''Laurel''.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

As developed in the [[Confederate States Department of the Navy|Confederate Navy Department]] and by its agents in Europe, ''Shenandoah'' was tasked to strike at the Union's economy and "seek out and utterly destroy" commerce in areas yet undisturbed. Captain Waddell began seeking enemy merchant ships on the [[Indian Ocean]] route between the [[Cape of Good Hope]] and Australia, and in the Pacific whaling fleet.<ref name="balwin611"/> En route to the Cape, the Confederates captured six [[prize (law)|prizes]]. Five were burned or scuttled, after the crew and passengers had been removed. The sixth was bonded and used to transport the prisoners to [[Salvador, Brazil|Bahia, Brazil]], where they were released. On the 2 January 1865, the ''Shenandoah'' briefly stopped at [[Île Saint-Paul]], and some of the crew debarked to explore the island and gather food.

The rich whaling grounds in the Bering Sea between [[Siberia]] and [[Alaska]] had been a safe haven for Yankee whalers for most of the American Civil War. This prosperous whaling ended in the spring and summer of 1865 when ''Shenandoah'' arrived and captured 20 of the 58 Yankee whalers working herethere. These whalers were destroyed more than a month after CSA President [[Jefferson Davis]] was captured on May 10, 1865.

On June 27, 1865, Waddell learned from a prize, ''Susan & Abigail'', that General [[Robert E. Lee]] had surrendered the [[Army of Northern Virginia]] almost three months earlier at [[Battle of Appomattox Court House|Appomattox Court House]]. ''Susan & Abigail'''s captain produced a San Francisco newspaper reporting the flight from [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] of the Confederate government 10 weeks previously. However, the newspaper also contained President Davis' proclamation that the "war would be carried on with re-newedrenewed vigor."<ref name="last" /> Waddell then captured 10 more whalers in the space of seven hours just below the [[Arctic Circle]].

On August 3, 1865, Waddell learned of the war's definite end when ''Shenandoah'' encountered the Liverpool [[barque]] ''Barracouta'', which was bound for San Francisco. Waddell was heading to the city to attack it, believing it weakly defended.<ref name="whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk/surrender.htm|title=Surrender of the Shenandoah|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626171650/http://www.whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk/surrender.htm|archive-date=2015-06-26}}</ref> He learned of the surrender of [[Joseph E. Johnston|Johnston]]'s]] army on April 26, and [[Edmund Kirby Smith|Kirby Smith]]'s]] army on May 26, and most crucially of the capture of President Davis. Captain Waddell then knew the war was over.<ref name="last">Hunt , Cornelius E. ''Last Confederate Cruiser, by one of her officers''. page 267</ref>

CSS ''Shenandoah'' sailed from off the west coast of Mexico via [[Cape Horn]] to Liverpool, a voyage of three months and over {{convert|9000|nmi|mi km}} and was all the while pursued by Union vessels. She anchored at the Mersey Bar at the mouth of the estuary awaiting a pilot to board her to guide the ship up the river and into the enclosed docks. Not flying any flag, theThe pilot refused to take the ship, which was not flying any flag, into Liverpool; the crew raised the [[Flags of the Confederate States of America#Second national flag: the "Stainless Banner" (1863–1865)|Confederate flag]]. CSS ''Shenandoah'' sailed up the River Mersey with the flag fully flying to crowds on the riverbanks.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

{{HMS|Donegal|1858|6}} happened to be anchored in mid-river between Toxteth in Liverpool and Tranmere in Birkenhead. Captain Waddell maneuvered his ship near to the British man-of-war, dropping anchor. The CSS ''Shenandoah'' was surrendered by Captain Waddell to Captain Paynter of HMS ''Donegal'' on 6 November 1865. The Confederate flag was lowered again for the very last time, under the watch of a [[Royal Navy]] detachment and the crew.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

CSS ''Shenandoah'' had struck her colors twice. This marked the last surrender of the American Civil War and the last official lowering of the Confederate flag. The very last act of the Civil War was Captain Waddell walking up the steps of [[Liverpool Town Hall]] with a letter to present to the mayor surrendering his ship to the UK government.<ref name="whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk"/> In so doing, ''Shenandoah'' becamewas the only Confederate warship to circumnavigate the globe.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

After the surrender, the CSS ''Shenandoah'' was berthed in the partially constructed [[Herculaneum Dock]] awaiting her fate. Once the international legalities were settled, she was turned over to the United States government.<ref>[http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_css-alabama-crew-of-the-british-isles_32.htm The confederate surrender] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928050330/http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_css-alabama-crew-of-the-british-isles_32.htm |date=2006-09-28 }}</ref>

After the surrender of ''Shenandoah'' to the British government, a decision had to be made of what to do with the Confederate crew, knowing the consequences of piracy charges. Clearly many of the crew originated from the United Kingdom and its colonies and were at risk of being considered pirates, and three had swum ashore in the cold November waters fearing the worst.<ref>"Last Flag Down"</ref>

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.<ref name="whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk"/>}}

Sometime in December 1865, crew members S.S. Lee, Orris M. Brown, John T. Mason and W.C. Whittle sailed from Liverpool to [[Buenos Aires]], via Bahia, [[Rio de Janeiro]] and [[Montevideo]]. After prospecting for a while, they went to [[Rosario]], upon [[Paraná River]], and near there bought a small place and began farming.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}} As the animosity of the US government began to soften towards them, Brown and Mason returned home;, followed later by Lee and Whittle did the same later.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

On returning home, Mason took a law course at the [[University of Virginia]], graduated, and was successful at his profession. He settled in Baltimore, and married Miss Helen Jackson, of New York, daughter of the late Lieutenant Alonzo Jackson of the [[U.S. Navy]].<ref name="tribute">{{cite web|url=http://www.csa-dixie.com/liverpool_dixie/whittle.htm|title=Tribute by Capt. W. C. Whittle CSN to John T. Mason and the Shenandoah|date=October 1904|work=The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah |publisher=Southern Crossroads|access-date=24 January 2010|archive-date=7 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207142401/http://csa-dixie.com/liverpool_dixie/whittle.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Dr. Frederick J. McNulty, the ship's assistant surgeon, eventually became a resident of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], where he was first employed as Superintendent of the City Lunatic Asylum at Austin Farm and, later, opened there a private sanitarium called Pine Grove Retreat at [[Roslindale]] while continuing to reside at 706 Huntington Avenue, Boston. He became a primary historical source for chroniclers of the actions of ''Shenandoah''. Whittle recounts that McNulty, a man of irascible temper, laid the ship's barber out with a single blow when the barber shoved shaving soap in his mouth as part of the crew's hazing of the ship's officers in celebration of crossing the equator. McNulty enlisted as a surgical officer in the Chilean Navy immediately after the surrender of ''Shenandoah'' and later in 1869 accepted a commission in the Cuban Patriot Army, but was repeatedly prevented from traveling to join the Army by U.S. government authorities before settling in Boston in 1879. McNulty is variously reported to have been a native of [[Ireland]], the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Richmond, Virginia]], but was most likely a native of IrelandIrish. He graduated from the [[Georgetown University School of Medicine]] in the District of Columbia and lived in Richmond, Virginia before resigning his commission in the medical service of the U.S. Navy to accept a commission in the Confederate States Navy. McNulty died at his home in Boston on June 14, 1897, at the age of 62.<ref>''Medical Record'' Vol. 51, No. 25 , June 19, 1897, "Obituary Notes Dr. Frederick J. McNulty", p. 884 (Google digitized Dec. 11, 2013)</ref><ref>William C. Whittle "The Cruise of the Shenandoah", published in series on March 13 and April 3, 1907 in Confederate Column of the ''Portsmouth Star''. ''Southern Historical Society Papers''. (1907) (R.A. Brock, Ed.). Richmond, Virginia: Southern Historical Society, Vol. 35, p. 243, 247 (Google digitized Dec. 17, 2007).</ref><ref>James Riley "The Shenandoah" as recounted to the author by Dr. F.J. McNulty and originally published in the Atlanta ''Constitution'', November, 1893, ''Southern Historical Papers''. (1893). (R.A. Brock, Ed.). Richmond, Virginia: Southern Historical Society, Vol. 21, p. 165-176 (Google digitized January 5, 2008)</ref><ref>''Eleventh Annual Report of the State Board of Lunacy and Charity of Massachusetts''. 1890. Public Doc. No. 17. Boston, Massachusetts: Wright & Potter, p. 43 (Google digitized Dec. 2, 2008)</ref><ref>''Confederate Veteran'', Vol. 12, No. 10, October, 1904, Nashville, Tennessee, "The Cruise of the Shenandoah" pp. 489–490</ref>

After her crew surrendered her to the British government at Liverpool on 6 November 1865, Thethe British handed ''Shenandoah'' over to the United States government. The ship was sold to Matthew Isaac Wilson of Liverpool.