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CSS Shenandoah |
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William Brice was born in Scotland and after reaching adulthood migrated to Victoria, Australia. After arriving, by way of England, he established his residence in on the outskirts of Melbourne, Victoria. He was residing there when he got word that the Confederate Cruiser, the “CSS Shenandoah’ had arrived in Port Phillip Bay, off Melbourne, on January 25, 1865; to make necessary repairs and take on supplies. He also heard that Lieutenant James Waddell was looking to acquire new crewmembers, so Brice immediately disposed of all his personal belongings and secretly made his way to the Sandridge docks, where the “Shenandoah” was having repairs made. Upon arriving and at the invitation of the crew, Brice went aboard; on the night of February 17, 1865.
Having been told that if he was found aboard by local police he would be forcibly removed, because Victorian authorities had issued orders that no Australian was to be allowed to go aboard the Confederate Cruiser, Brice was hidden out of sight by crew members until the ship made its way out of Australian waters. Once that occurred Brice came out of hiding, on February 18, 1865, and by placing his mark beside his name on the ships log for a pay rate of $33.95, he became a ships fireman and an official member of the “Shenandoah” crew.
On March 21, 1865 Brice became insolent to the Master at Arms and was triced up (tied up) for an hour as punishment. William Brice was also one of the signatories who expressed confidence in the command of Lieutenant James I. Waddell in a petition dated September 1865.
Brice continued serving aboard the “Shenandoah” until it was officially surrendered by Lieutenant James Waddell, to British Captain Paynter, commanding Her Majesty’s ship “Donegal,, in Liverpool, England, on November 6, 1865. Upon its surrender, Brice joined the crew ashore and is believed to have eventually returned to Australia. |
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Alabama Claims, “Correspondence Concerning Claims Against Great Britain transmitted to the Senate of the United States in answer to the Resolutions of December 4, and 10, 1867, and of May 27, 1868”, Washington; 1869 CSS Shenandoah Deck Log Eleanor S. Brockenbrough Library, Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia. Lieutenant William C. Whittle Jr., Executive Officer Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion The Cruise of the Shenandoah, Captain William C. Whittle, CSN William A. Temple, Affidavit |
