CSS “Shenandoah”

Henry Canning was born in England and later migrated to Victoria Australia. Upon arrival he made his home in the area of Melbourne, Victoria and was living there when the Confederate Cruiser, “CSS Shenandoah” arrived in Port Phillip Bay, off Melbourne; on January 25, 1865 to take on new supplies. Learning that the “Shenandoah” had arrived in Melbourne and was interested in acquiring new crewmembers, Henry went aboard, in violation of local laws, and after the “Shenandoah” sailed and entered international waters, placed his mark beside his name and signed aboard as a seaman at the rate of $33.95; on February 18th, 1865. He signed on as a fireman, although Lieutenant William C. Whittle Jr., Exectuive Officer, shows his rating as that of a landsman.

On April 17, 1865, Henry was transferred from the fire department of the cruiser to the Confederate Marine Corps, as private, was put in bonds on May 26th, 1865, for attempting to fight, but was released a short time later. Not having learned from the encounter, Henry was again triced up, and this time gagged, on July 24, 1865; again  for fighting. He was considered by Lieutenant Whittle as being “the greatest pest of the ship” and stated “he is more trouble than he is worth.   I wish he was out of the ship”. Still, Henry was one of the signatories who expressed confidence in the command of Lieutenant James I. Waddell, in a petition dated September 1865.

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; ORN 1, 3, 783;

Eleanor S. Brockenbrough Library, Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia.

History of The Confederate States Navy, J.T. Scarf, 1996

Lieutenant William C. Whittle Jr., Exectuive Officer

Marauders of the Sea, Confederate Merchant Raiders During the American Civil

     War, Mackenzie J Gregory

The Confederate soldier in the Civil War, 1861-1865, 1897

The Cruise of the Shenandoah, Captain William C. Whittle, CSN

William A. Temple, affidavit