The CSS Shenandoah was subsequently turned over to the American Minister, Charles Francis Adams, who, after an abortive attempt to send her to the United States, ordered her sold at auction. She was purchased for $108,632.18 by the Sultan of Zanzibar who intended to convert her into a luxury yacht.
After this proved to be economically unfeasible, the Sultan placed the ex-raider in the Indian Ocean ivory trade under the name Majidi.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Monday, November 9, 2015
The Surrender of the CSS Shenandoah-- Part 2: Welles Wants Blood
Gideon Welles wrote: "The close of the career of the Shenandoah on the high seas was notoriously and indisputably that of a pirate, and the piracy was one of the most odious and despicable character.
"It was not the plunder of richly laden barks belonging to 'merchant princes,' who could afford the loss, though they might feel it, but the wanton destruction of the property of individuals seeking a humble subsistence in one of the most laborious and perilous of callings, and who could make no show of resistance to the overwhelming force of the pirate.
"No other description of robbery upon the high seas could have inflicted so much individual distress upon persons so little able to bear it, and so little deserving of it."
In other words, Welles regarded Waddell and crew as pirates and would like to have them hanged. And, as far as the whaling ships destroyed, these were mostly owned by those "merchant princes" he spoke of and all were insured by maritime insurance companies who were extremely mad about the claims.
Good Thing Waddell and Crew Made It to Liverpool and Weren't Captured by the United States. I Think Old Gideon Would Have Hoisted 'Em All. --Old B-R'er
"It was not the plunder of richly laden barks belonging to 'merchant princes,' who could afford the loss, though they might feel it, but the wanton destruction of the property of individuals seeking a humble subsistence in one of the most laborious and perilous of callings, and who could make no show of resistance to the overwhelming force of the pirate.
"No other description of robbery upon the high seas could have inflicted so much individual distress upon persons so little able to bear it, and so little deserving of it."
In other words, Welles regarded Waddell and crew as pirates and would like to have them hanged. And, as far as the whaling ships destroyed, these were mostly owned by those "merchant princes" he spoke of and all were insured by maritime insurance companies who were extremely mad about the claims.
Good Thing Waddell and Crew Made It to Liverpool and Weren't Captured by the United States. I Think Old Gideon Would Have Hoisted 'Em All. --Old B-R'er
The Surrender of the CSS Shenandoah-- Part 1: Arrival in Liverpool
As I have written a lot about this past week, uit was 150 years ago that the last belligerent act of the war took place with the surrender of the commerce raider CSS Shenandoah in Liverpoool, England, to British authorities.
Before reaching Liverpool, Waddell had divided the prize money, "captured prior to the surrender of the Southern armies and other money which had been captured after the surrender of the Southern armies. The former I directed to be divided among the officers and crew according to the law on the subject of prize money, of which I declined to receive the portion which i would be entitled to. and it was divided among the officers and crew with the rest of the money. That which was captured after the surrender of the Southern armies was surrendered to Paymaster Robert W. Warwick, H.M. ship Donegal."
Secretary Welles bitterly denounced the release of the Confederates in a letter to Secretary of State Seward and urged that demands be made for Waddell and his crew to be delivered to the United States.
--Old B-Runner
Before reaching Liverpool, Waddell had divided the prize money, "captured prior to the surrender of the Southern armies and other money which had been captured after the surrender of the Southern armies. The former I directed to be divided among the officers and crew according to the law on the subject of prize money, of which I declined to receive the portion which i would be entitled to. and it was divided among the officers and crew with the rest of the money. That which was captured after the surrender of the Southern armies was surrendered to Paymaster Robert W. Warwick, H.M. ship Donegal."
Secretary Welles bitterly denounced the release of the Confederates in a letter to Secretary of State Seward and urged that demands be made for Waddell and his crew to be delivered to the United States.
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Actual End of War Commemorated in Liverpool-- Part 2: "Last Flag Down"
Ian Dewar, president of the 290 Associates said that Waddell feared that if he sailed his ship into an American port or was captured by a Federal ship that he and his crew would be arrested and/or hanged as pirates.
Most of the crew of 26 were from England, Scotland and Wales.
The lowering of the Confederate flag constituted the last act of the war and led to the phrase "Last Flag Down."
Dozens of people from the United States made the trip to be here. Newlyweds David and Lunelle McAllister, from Tampa, Florida, were there. They made Liverpool their honeymoon destination to attend the event. Wearing Confederate uniforms, Gary Lee Hall, 64, and Byron Brady, 61, both from North Carolina were also in attendance.
After the surrender to the Royal Navy, the crew was set free and marched to Liverpool Town Hall in Confederate uniforms to surrender to the mayor.
There is no memorial in Liverpool yet existing to commemorate the event.
--Old B-R'er
Most of the crew of 26 were from England, Scotland and Wales.
The lowering of the Confederate flag constituted the last act of the war and led to the phrase "Last Flag Down."
Dozens of people from the United States made the trip to be here. Newlyweds David and Lunelle McAllister, from Tampa, Florida, were there. They made Liverpool their honeymoon destination to attend the event. Wearing Confederate uniforms, Gary Lee Hall, 64, and Byron Brady, 61, both from North Carolina were also in attendance.
After the surrender to the Royal Navy, the crew was set free and marched to Liverpool Town Hall in Confederate uniforms to surrender to the mayor.
There is no memorial in Liverpool yet existing to commemorate the event.
--Old B-R'er
Actual End of the War Commemorated Yesterday in Liverpool: The Surrender of the CSS Shenandoah-- Part 1
From the Nov. 6, 2015, Shaghai News "Feature: 150 years on final act of American Civil War commemoration in England."
The end of the Civil War did not take place in the United States, but rather 6,000 kilometers from that country. It took place when the last warship of the Confederacy surrendered November 6, 1865. The CSS Shenandoah, proudly flying the Confederate flag arrived on the River Mersey in Liverpool, almost seven months after the surrender of Robert E. Lee.
Today, in Liverpool, combatant descendants from both sides gathered to remember the event. Wreaths and flowers were laid on the river.
Captain James Iredell Waddell and the crew aboard the Glasgow-built raider had continued attacking and destroying United States ships for many months after the conclusion of the war as they were unaware that it had ended. Finally they obtained newspapers from a passing British merchant ship reporting the war's end. they immediately ceased hostilities and sailed for Liverpool.
--Old B-Runner
The end of the Civil War did not take place in the United States, but rather 6,000 kilometers from that country. It took place when the last warship of the Confederacy surrendered November 6, 1865. The CSS Shenandoah, proudly flying the Confederate flag arrived on the River Mersey in Liverpool, almost seven months after the surrender of Robert E. Lee.
Today, in Liverpool, combatant descendants from both sides gathered to remember the event. Wreaths and flowers were laid on the river.
Captain James Iredell Waddell and the crew aboard the Glasgow-built raider had continued attacking and destroying United States ships for many months after the conclusion of the war as they were unaware that it had ended. Finally they obtained newspapers from a passing British merchant ship reporting the war's end. they immediately ceased hostilities and sailed for Liverpool.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, November 6, 2015
Was the USS Saranac That Ship That Scared the Shenandoah?
In the last post I mentioned that the Shenandoah had a scare from the USS Saranac as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean for England. I know that the Saranac was one of the ship's specifically searching for the Shenandoah. However, I found no mention that this ship had continued into the Atlantic Ocean in its pursuit.
The Shenandoah had disarmed itself and surrendering to an American ship wasn't a good idea because they had captured and destroyed Union ships after the war was over, even though they didn't know it at the time. They were considered pirates and it is never a good thing to be captured if you are a pirate.
I wonder if anyone knows for sure whether the stranger ship was the Saranac?
--Old B-R'er
The Shenandoah had disarmed itself and surrendering to an American ship wasn't a good idea because they had captured and destroyed Union ships after the war was over, even though they didn't know it at the time. They were considered pirates and it is never a good thing to be captured if you are a pirate.
I wonder if anyone knows for sure whether the stranger ship was the Saranac?
--Old B-R'er
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
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
Thursday, November 5, 2015
150 Years Ago: End of the Confederate Navy-- Part 2: "The Flag Was Then Hauled Down"
"I received a pilot after midnight, and when he was informed it was the Shenandoah he explained, 'I was reading a few days ago of your being in the Arctic Ocean." I asked for the news from America. His statement corroborated the Barracouta's intelligence.
"I desired the pilot to take the ship into the Mersey that I might communicate with Her Majesty's Government. On the morning of the 6th of November, 1865, the Shenandoah steamed up the River Mersey in a thick fog under the Confederate flag, and the pilot had orders to anchor her near H.M. ship-of-the-line Donegal, Captain Paynter, R.N.
"Shortly after we anchored a lieutenant from the Donegal visited us to ascertain the name of the vessel and give me official intelligence of the termination of the American war. He was polite. The flag was then hauled down."
That's All Folks. --Old B-R'er
"I desired the pilot to take the ship into the Mersey that I might communicate with Her Majesty's Government. On the morning of the 6th of November, 1865, the Shenandoah steamed up the River Mersey in a thick fog under the Confederate flag, and the pilot had orders to anchor her near H.M. ship-of-the-line Donegal, Captain Paynter, R.N.
"Shortly after we anchored a lieutenant from the Donegal visited us to ascertain the name of the vessel and give me official intelligence of the termination of the American war. He was polite. The flag was then hauled down."
That's All Folks. --Old B-R'er
150 Years Ago: The End of the Confederate Navy Nears-- Part 1: CSS Shenandoah Nears England
NOVEMBER 5TH, 1865: The commerce raider CSS Shenandoah is now nearing England. This is taken from James Waddell's journal.
"The ship (Shenandoah) was continued under sail during the daylight, because if we had gotten up steam it would have been observed, and as each sail was ignorant of the character of the other, it would have directed attention to the steamer, and one of them might have been a Federal cruiser.
"As soon as night received us in her friendly folds steam was applied and we were off for St. George's Channel. The weather continued calm and beautiful, and I entered the channel on the 5th of November, just 122 days from the Aleutian Islands.
The chronometers had not been rated since we left Melbourne, and we had not seen land since we left the Aleutian Islands, and yet we could not have made a more beautiful landfall; the beacon in St. George's Channel was seen where and at what time looked for."
St. George's Channel is at the southern end of England on the west side and separates it from Ireland. You have to enter it from the south to get to Liverpool where Waddell intended to turn his ship over to England.
--Old B-Runner
"The ship (Shenandoah) was continued under sail during the daylight, because if we had gotten up steam it would have been observed, and as each sail was ignorant of the character of the other, it would have directed attention to the steamer, and one of them might have been a Federal cruiser.
"As soon as night received us in her friendly folds steam was applied and we were off for St. George's Channel. The weather continued calm and beautiful, and I entered the channel on the 5th of November, just 122 days from the Aleutian Islands.
The chronometers had not been rated since we left Melbourne, and we had not seen land since we left the Aleutian Islands, and yet we could not have made a more beautiful landfall; the beacon in St. George's Channel was seen where and at what time looked for."
St. George's Channel is at the southern end of England on the west side and separates it from Ireland. You have to enter it from the south to get to Liverpool where Waddell intended to turn his ship over to England.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Remove "Silent Sam" from UNC-- Part 2
Private Warren Biggs was rejoined with his wife on April 15, 2000 at Pleasant Grove Church in Bailey, North Carolina after a 137-year separation. This took place after the family had found his grave in Wilmington.
Dennis Rogers continued that Warren Biggs was buried in Nash County. The First National Flag of the Confederacy, the Stars and Bars draped his coffin.
Mr. Rogers spends most Saturdays as a volunteer at Fort Anderson and Brunswick Town on the west bank of the Cape Fear River south of Wilmington. He says the museum doesn't sell the controversial Second Confederate Navy Jack, but that he would resign if they did.
He made some interesting points about "Silent Sam's" removal.
--Old B-R'er
Dennis Rogers continued that Warren Biggs was buried in Nash County. The First National Flag of the Confederacy, the Stars and Bars draped his coffin.
Mr. Rogers spends most Saturdays as a volunteer at Fort Anderson and Brunswick Town on the west bank of the Cape Fear River south of Wilmington. He says the museum doesn't sell the controversial Second Confederate Navy Jack, but that he would resign if they did.
He made some interesting points about "Silent Sam's" removal.
--Old B-R'er
Southerner Whose Ancester Served At Fort Fisher Wants "Silent Sam" Removed from UNC-- Part 1
From the Oct. 16, 2015, Raleigh (NC) News & Observer "Rogers: This Southerner says it's time to move "Silent Sam." Dennis Rogers
Sadly, the Confederate Flag debate comes to this blog.
"I am a proud Southerner whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy. I am also a proud alumnus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Keeping the statue where it is now is a disservice to everyone. Confession: I am a native-born Southerner and proud of it."
His great-great grandfather, Private Warren Biggs, 10th N.C. Artillery (Heavy) served at Fort Fisher. He was first assigned as a cook and later served as a provost guard in Wilmington. He died of disease while on active duty here in 1863.
His family had the remains disinterred and removed them to a nearby church cemetery where his widow, Mahalia, had been buried for decades. The couple were reunited with full Confederate military honors. re-enactors from the 10th N.C. Artillery and 26th N.C. Infantry regiments served as honor guard and pall bearers.
--Old B-Runner
Sadly, the Confederate Flag debate comes to this blog.
"I am a proud Southerner whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy. I am also a proud alumnus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Keeping the statue where it is now is a disservice to everyone. Confession: I am a native-born Southerner and proud of it."
His great-great grandfather, Private Warren Biggs, 10th N.C. Artillery (Heavy) served at Fort Fisher. He was first assigned as a cook and later served as a provost guard in Wilmington. He died of disease while on active duty here in 1863.
His family had the remains disinterred and removed them to a nearby church cemetery where his widow, Mahalia, had been buried for decades. The couple were reunited with full Confederate military honors. re-enactors from the 10th N.C. Artillery and 26th N.C. Infantry regiments served as honor guard and pall bearers.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
150 Years Ago: U.S. Navy Begins Exchanging Courtesies with England Again
NOVEMBER 3, 1965: Secretary Welles ordered all naval vessels to resume rendering honors when entering British ports and to begin again exchanging official courtesies with English men of war.
Early in the war, the Navy had been ordered to cease rendering these traditional courtesies to the national flag of any nation that accorded recognition to Confederate belligerency. This order continued in effect against Great Britain until that nation lifted the last of the restrictions that had been placed on American naval vessels entering British ports or waters.
--Old B-R'er
Early in the war, the Navy had been ordered to cease rendering these traditional courtesies to the national flag of any nation that accorded recognition to Confederate belligerency. This order continued in effect against Great Britain until that nation lifted the last of the restrictions that had been placed on American naval vessels entering British ports or waters.
--Old B-R'er
150 Years Ago: Ships Headed for the Pacific Squadron
NOVEMBER 2, 1865: A special squadron of four vessels commanded by Commodore John Rodgers departed from Hampton Roads for the Pacific via Cape Horn. These ships consisted of the USS Vanderbilt, Tuscarora, Powhatan and Monadnock and were intended to increase the Pacific squadron to a fourteen ship force.
Even so, this was a small number of ships for the vast responsibilities of the United States already rapidly increasing in this mighty ocean where so much history would be written.
The USS Monadnock was an ironclad double-turreted monitor which had taken part in the attacks on Fort Fisher. The other three wooden ships had also been at Fort Fisher.
Westward Ho. --Old B-Runner
Even so, this was a small number of ships for the vast responsibilities of the United States already rapidly increasing in this mighty ocean where so much history would be written.
The USS Monadnock was an ironclad double-turreted monitor which had taken part in the attacks on Fort Fisher. The other three wooden ships had also been at Fort Fisher.
Westward Ho. --Old B-Runner
Monday, November 2, 2015
150 Years Ago: The U.S. Ram Fleet History-- Part 2
"In November, 1863, the Secretary of War decided upon enlarging the fleet by... what was known as the Mississippi Marine Brigade....
"The fleet was continued in service until August 1864, when the War Department thought the necessity of such an organization no longer existed, and it was mustered out of the service and the boats turned over to the quartermasters...to be used as transports."
--Old B-R'er
"The fleet was continued in service until August 1864, when the War Department thought the necessity of such an organization no longer existed, and it was mustered out of the service and the boats turned over to the quartermasters...to be used as transports."
--Old B-R'er
150 Years Ago: Mississippi U.S. Ram Fleet History-- Part 1
NOVEMBER 1, 1865: James Brooks, formerly of the U.S. Ram Fleet and Mississippi Marine Brigade, wrote a brief sketch of the ram fleet history to Brigadier general L.B. Parsons, Chief of Transportation Department in St. Louis: "The idea...of destroying the enemy's fleet by the use of rams originated with Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr. ...About the last of March, 1862, the Secretary of War invited him to his office to consult on the subject, and ordered him...to procure the boats and make the necessary alterations...
"It (the ram fleet)...was at Memphis on the morning of 6th June (1862) and participated in the battle.... The result was a great triumph for the rams, and fully came up to the expectations of Colonel Ellet and the Government...."
--Old B-Runner
"It (the ram fleet)...was at Memphis on the morning of 6th June (1862) and participated in the battle.... The result was a great triumph for the rams, and fully came up to the expectations of Colonel Ellet and the Government...."
--Old B-Runner
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