Letters
Ships named Shenandoah and Sea King March 21, 2010 11:18 AM
Subject: "were there two Shenandoahs" WebLog There was only one CSS Shenandoah as you pointed out. Its Smoke stack was telescopic. I am only aware of one picture of the CSS Shenandoah, and that is the one in drydock. All others of the CSS Shenandoah are various types of Art, Painting, Sketches(one done by Captain Waddell in a long boat during the cruise.) I am very likely to write a book on the CSS Shenandoah and have alot of info previously to my knowlege unpublished. If I dont however, there is no way I will let the info I have discovered disappear again. There was however another Shenandoah and that is this one which ironically searched for Confederate Raiders early on, then went to become a blockade ship. This particular ship (other than its existance and photographs) I know little about. The one picture I do remember, it appeared to be riding much lower in the water for some reason. Possibly heavy armament? Strangely her dimensions loosely length and width appear similar to her Confederate counter part. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Shenandoah_%281862%29 Because the US already had a USS Shenandoah, the CSS Shenandoah resumed its old Sea King Name. Whether that name was SS Sea King or USS Sea King I do not know. May I ask what info you have on the ship and specifically to the location, date and circumstances of her sinking. Also of interest any info on the Shenandoah dry docking in Austrailia. Im very interested in info that cannon currently in Austrailia from the CSS Shenandoah along with the dates, info and how it came to be where it is. I believe the Placque says Feb 1865 which is confusing to me because I did not think Shenandoah made it to dry dock by that time.
More about the name Shenandoah: Ships and the airship carrying the name Shenandoah were so named after the Shenandoah valley and the national park. The Shenandoah Valley. Ships were also named for the adjoining Shenandoah National Park. The Valley and the National Park are both located in the western part of the State of Virginia. The name Shenandoah is derived from an Indian word meaning "Daughter of the Stars.
It is my understanding that the cannon on Churtchill Island is not from the Confederate Raider. IF CSS Shenandoah resumed her original name of Sea King she would have carried the prefix CSS and not USS. CSS Shenandoah at the end of the civil war sailed to England where she gave herself up to the British.
I am unable to turn up any detail about the demise of USS Shenandoah 1, all the internet turns up for me is a host of articles on the Airship named Shenandoah. Best regards, LOL! Im painfully aware of the Air Ship Shenandoah I unfortunately found early on while researching. I also had the misfortune of editing wikipedia correcting on some of what I had at the time of the end of the ships life of what was previously not common knowlege. By the end of the week it was copied verbatum making my searches literally that much less fruitless by the day and giving away for free part what I had found. The great Zanzibar hurricane on April 15 1872. Lesson learned... Daughter of the Stars. Ill have to remember that. I stand happily corrected on the date of Shenandoah reaching Australia. There is no IF about the Shenandoah resuming her previous Sea King name. It was short lived (that is her US ownership not resuming the Sea King name) and the renaming was AFTER the surrender. The CSS Shenandoah was the under the Shenandoah up until the surrender. After the Surrender to the Capt Paynter of HMS Donegal the ship was put under charge of a gunboat, there was no Confederacy left to have any active CSS ships. Matter of fact the Shenandoah was surrendered to the British, who in turn handed her over to the US becoming either the USS Sea King being US Navy or SS Sea King or civilian. The later is more likely as the ship was turned over to the US foreign Consul to Great Britain under Mr Adams rather than the US Navy unfortunately but so goes the war. I get the impression from your tone that you don't believe me but I assure you its all verifiable. Currently Ive accrued over 260 Newspaper articles from the Date they happened regarding the cruise of the Shenandoah and after. I was actually supposed to go back to the Museum of the Naval Academy this month when a painting was supposed to be on loan but I am just now recovering from being sick and been busy with health issues with my family. Do you know where I can find pictures of the Cannon in Australia? Who owns it and can I use the pictures with a reference to the owner of them? Who would be the best source for the background of the Cannon. I noticed it is a six pounder which is not usually mentioned regarding the ships Armament. The ship had 4 32 pounder Witworth guns, and 2 64 pounders. The 6 pounders were mentioned early on lending credibility, however with alot of very interesting falsehoods, some intentional from the Shenandoah to put out false information. The other possibility though maybe unlikely, I was wondering about was if the cannon in Australia actually landed there during the first cruise to Auckland NZ in 1864 during which 6 pnders were definately on board while transporting British troops to NZ during the Maori wars. Just thinking out loud. I have attached a pic of the Austrailian Cannon. I would love to use the Cannon pic and am hoping you can help verify info of what it is, how it came to be at Church Island etc. Thanks,
Bobby,
Regards, Mac. Hello, With regard to the cannon on Churchill Island mounted in front of the former home of Samuel Amess, it was presented to him by Captain Waddell and the officers from CSS Shenandoah during their visit to Melbourne in 1865, in return for hospitalty given by Amess to them. It appears to be a 10 pounder, and at that time Shenandoah did not carry any 10 pounders. Can you please indicate where that cannon came from? and do you have any photos of this cannon, if so, are they still under any copyright? Any help is appreciated. Regards,
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