Friday, November 6, 2015

150 Years Ago: The CSS Shenandoah Surrenders to the English Navy-- Part 1

NOVEMBER 6, 1865:  The CSS Shenandoah, Lt. Waddell, sailed up the Mersey River into Liverpool, 123 days and 23,000 miles from the Aleutians.  This had been a non-stop cruise made primarily under sail.  The raider resorted to steam only on one occasion at night in the mid-South Atlantic to evade the USS Saranac.

The following morning the boiler fires were banked and Waddell proceeded under sail and arrived at his destination without sighting another vessel.  The Shenandoah entered Liverpool harbor with the Confederate flag flying and became the only ship to circumnavigate the globe in the Confederate Navy.

Waddell reported his arrival to the British Foreign Ministry and was officially informed that the war was over.  he thereupon lowered the last official; Confederate flag and turned his ship, himself and crew over to Captain J.G. Paynter, RN, commanding the HMS Donegal.

After a few days confinement to the ship, Waddell and his crew were set at liberty by the English government.

--Old B-Runner

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