June 16, 1865: The CSS Shenandoah Is Still Cruising in the Pacific, Unaware the War Is Over

JUNE 16TH, 1865:  For two days the CSS Shenandoah had sailed  northward in a fog that fortunately lifted partly just in time to enable her to miss running aground as she passed west of the Aleutians.

Three days later, half way across the world, Commander Bulloch wrote to Lieutenant Waddell, ordering him to desist from further destruction of United States property upon the high seas and all offensive  operations against U.S. citizens.

Of course, these were orders that would not be delivered for many weeks even under the best of conditions.  Therefore, American whalers were destined to suffer disastrous blows.

--Old B-R'er

CSS Shenandoah Still Cruising-- Part 1: Good to Be Out in the Pacific Again

JULY 5TH, 1865:  The CSS Shenandoah, Lt. Waddell, steamed out of the hostile Bering Sea via the Amukta Passage in the Aleutian chain and set a southeasterly course across the commerce lanes of the Eastern Pacific.

A captain at sea day and night never rests from all the encompassing responsibilities for the safety of his ship and men.  Escaping from the clutches of the ice Waddell felt deep relief:  "Again in the North Pacific with fine weather and the Aleutian Islands astern, I looked back in thankfulness towards those seas in which we had seen hard and dangerous service, and I felt a sensation of freedom on the vast outstretched water before us, no longer dreading the cry from the masthead of 'ice ahead'.

"We had run from gloomy fogs into a bright, cheerful, sparkling ocean, and as soon as the hot sun thawed the frosty timbers and rigging of the ship and man, we should feel ourselves more than a match for anything we might meet under canvas."

--Old B-Runner