American Civil War: CSS Shenandoah Surrenders

November 6, 1865 - The Confederate raider CSS Shenandoah (right) puts into Liverpool, England becoming the last unit to surrender during the American Civil War. Built as Sea King in Glasgow, Scotland, the ship was purchased by the Confederate government in 1864, for use as a commerce raider. Departing London on October 8, under the guise of a trading voyage, Sea King arrived at Funchal, Madeira where it was converted into a warship. On October 18, the ship was commissioned as CSS Shenandoah with Lt. James Waddell in command. Sailing south, Waddell attacked American shipping in the sea lanes between the Cape of Good Hope and Australia, before making port at Melbourne in January 1865. Turning north, he assaulted the American whaling fleet in the Bering Sea and then ran south to attack shipping off the West Coast. En route, he learned that the war had ended. After changing Shenandoah's appearance and stowing its guns, Waddell sailed to Liverpool. Arriving November 6, 1865, Shenandoah completed its circumnavigation of the globe and became the last Confederate combat unit to surrender.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center