CSS Shenandoah

James Fegan was born Ireland and migrated to Australia. Upon his arrival in Melbourne, Victoria Fegan disembarked from his ship and established a residence in the Melbourne area. He was residing and working in Melbourne when he learned that the Confederate Cruiser, the “CSS Shenandoah” had entered Port Phillip Bay, off Melbourne, on January 25, 1865, to take on new supplies; and that its Captain was interested in acquiring new crewmembers. For reasons of his own, Fegan went to the docks and made his way aboard the “Shenandoah” on the night of  February 17, 1865. Fearing retribution if found, because the Victorian authorities had issued orders that no one was to go aboard the Confederate Cruiser, Fegan stayed hidden and out of sight until the ship made its way out of Australian waters, at which  time he came out of hiding, on February 18, 1865 along with many others, and by placing his mark beside his name on the ships log for a pay rate of $19.40 he became ordinary seaman and a member of the “Shenandoah” crew. On March 19, 1865, Fegan was charged with ‘disobeying the Master at Arms’ aboard ship and was hoisted and secured with a rope.

Fegan continued serving on the “Shenandoah” until November 6, 1865 at which time the “CSS Shenandoah” was officially surrendered by her Commander to British Captain Paynter, commanding her Majesty’s ship “Donegal,, in Liverpool, England. Afterwards, he joined the crew ashore.

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

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

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion

Shenandoah Deck Log1, 816 & 976

“The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah: A Memorable Cruise,”, William C. Whittle, Jr.

William A. Temple, affidavit

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

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

     War, Mackenzie J Gregory

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