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346 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

erate service, primarily to disperse and destroy the New Eng-
land whaling fleet in the northern seas. She had been de-
signed as a transport for troops, had spacious decks and large
air ports, and was well suited for conversion into a cruiser.
A fast sailer under canvas, her steam power was more thap
auxiliary, as she could exceed eleven knots without pressing.
Provided with fifteen months’ stores, she sailed from London
8 October, 1864, in command of her English master, Captain
Corbett, for Madeira. Ten days later she was delivered over
to her new commander, Lieutenant James I. Waddell, who
had taken passage from Liverpool with the officers and men
detailed for his command. Among the latter were some
picked men from the famous Alabama, which had been sunk
by the Kearsage a few months before. The Shenandoah
was commissioned 19 October and that day cleared for Ma-
deira.

The journal of Commander Waddell is now in the posses-
sion of the Navy Department, and is a most interesting rec-
ord of the career of the Shenandoah.

On 30 October the ery of “Sail ho!” rang out from the
Shenandoah’s masthead. Immediately she bore down upon
the distant vessel, an American bark, the Alma, of a seaport
in Maine, bound for Buenos Ayres with railroad iron. She

was on her first voyage, thoroughly equipped, nicely coppered —

and beautifully clean—a tempting prize. Defense on her
part was out of the question, and the Confederates boarded
and seuttled her, after appropriating such of her furnishings
as they could make use of and taking the crew prisoners, six
of whom afterwards volunteered their service as active men
on the Shenandoah.. The Alma was valued at $95,000.

On 15 November the Shenandoah crossed the equator. Her
course thence lay south along the coast of Brazil. Nothing
of interest occurred after crossing the line except the inter-
change of courtesies with neutral vessels until 4 December,
when the American whaleship Edwards, out of New Bedford
three months, was sighted and captured near the Island of
Tristan. The Hdwards had taken a whale and was “cutting
out” when captured, her crew being so occupied with the fish
that the Shenandoah had come within easy range of her unob-

Tue SHENANDOAH. 347

served. The Edwards’ outfit was of excellent quality, and
the Confederates lay by two days supplying their steamer
with necessaries. The whaleship was then burned, and Wad-
dell landed for a day at Tristan and made arrangements with
the native governor to receive the Edwards’ crew, most of
whom were Sandwich Islanders.

Soon after the departure from Tristan it was found that a
serious accident had happened to the propeller shaft of the
Shenandoah, and it became necessary to seek some considera-
ble port for the repairs. Capetown was nearest, but Com-
mander Waddell preferred making Melbourne, if possible,
the course thither lying nearer the more frequented tracks of
the United States vessels. The voyage was marked by the
capture of several merchantmen.

The character of the Shenandoah was known at Melbourne
and she was cheered and surrounded by the steamers in the
haven. The next day the work of repairing the ship was be-
gun and during the delay several of the crew embraced the
opportunity to desert, all of them being men who had joined
the Shenandoah from captured ships. The attempt of Wad-
dell to pursue and bring back these men was obstructed by the
United States consul, as well as by the Australian authorities.
The Shenandoah, in a fortified British port, was in no posi-
tion to resist these acts, and on 18 February, the repairs and
coaling having been completed, the port was cleared.

The delay of the steamer at Melbourne had operated
against success for the Shenandoah in the South Pacific. The
whaling fleets of that ocean had received warning of the pres-
ence of the privateer and had departed for sheltering ports
or the Arctic ocean. Learning from a passing steamer that
some United States whaling vessels were to be found in a
harbor of the Caroline Islands, Waddell directed his course
thither, reaching the Islands early in April.

An English pilot, who had been living there for some years,
volunteered his services to the Confederates and brought the
steamer to anchor in sight of four vessels flying the American
flag. The flag of the Shenandoah was not yet displayed.
After anchorage was secured four armed boats were dis-
patched with orders to capture the vessels and bring their of-