CSS Shenandoah

George H. Gifford was believed born in Virginia in the United States, the son of T.C. Gifford a ships Captain and Martha A. Gifford, and for whatever reason, migrated to Victoria, Australia. There he made his home in the community of Williamstown in Melbourne, and was living there when the Confederate Cruiser, the “CSS Shenandoah” arrived in Port Phillip Bay.  Upon arriving at Port Phillip Bay Lieutenant Waddell stood the “Shenandoah” off the entrance to Port Phillip, and requested a Pilot, who responded that orders prevented him from bringing a belligerent ship into harbour without good cause, Waddell responded he had problems with his propeller shaft on the “Shenandoah”, which was good enough for Pilot Edward Johnson to move ahead and assist. Waiting off the heads, a health official  then boarded the “Shenandoah” and reported that the Confederates would find many friends in Melbourne; but also warned they would find enemies awaiting them as well.

The ship received government approval to stay in port at Melbourne to resupply her provisions and to make the necessary repairs to the propeller shaft. In the meantime, all the local citizenry turned out to view the Rebel Pirate ship; while the officers went ashore and revelled with fresh cooked dinners, and elaborate balls held in their honour.

U.S. Consul to Melbourne, William Blanchard, protested strenuously to Governor Darling, that the Sea King, as the “Shenandoah was formerly known, did not qualify as a warship, and should be designated a Pirate; but Darling stated that the law officers of the Crown had "Come to the decision that, whatever may be the previous history of Shenandoah, the Government of the Colony is bound to treat her as a ship of war belonging to a belligerent nation."

On January 25, 1865 the “CSS Shenandoah” was placed in dock at Sandridge to make the necessary repairs, replenish her supplies and try and recruit new crew members; even though it was in violation of international law to do so in a neutral port.

Learning that the “Shenandoah” had arrived in Melbourne and that she was interested in acquiring new crewmembers, Green made his was to the Sandridge docks and went aboard the “CSS Shenandoah”; on the night of Friday, February 17, 1865. He had to stay hidden by the crew  and out of sight until the ship made for and was out of Australian waters, then he came out, placed his mark beside his name on the ships log on February 18th, 1865, for the pay of $26.30, and became a member of the “Shenandoah” crew and a Corporal of the Confederate States Marine Corps. William Temple incorrectly recorded his rating as a seaman; rather than as a Corporal of the Confederate States Marine Corps.

The Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy, 1861 – 1865 shows a master’s mate named George H. Gifford, who had served aboard the CSS Patrick Henry, and the same individual listed as ‘George Gifford’ in Co. “B”, 39th Virginia Cavalry Richardson’s Batt’n. of Scouts, Guides and Couriers, Thirteenth Battalion, Cavalry and in Co. “G”, with Captain William F. Randolph’s Batt’n. of Scouts, Guides and Couriers; at Drewry’s Bluff on the James River in Virginia, in 1861 and 1862, being transferred back to the 1st Va. Batt’n. where he was said to have belonged and then discharged on June 13, 1862. It is not conclusively not known, however, if this was in fact the same George Gifford who boarded the “Shenandoah” at Melbourne or not. The chance of there being two different George Gifford’s on the same ship, at the same time and both being American born though, is more than extremely remote. As such, we must assume they are one and the same. The fact that Gifford may have served aboard another Confederate ship, and the fact he may have saw action with the 39th Virginia Cavalry may have been his ticket to a Corporal’s position with the Confederate States Marine Corps aboard the “Shenandoah”.

Gifford remained with the “Shenandoah’ until the end of her epic voyage, when she was surrendered on November 6, 1865 by Lieutenant Waddell to British Captain Paynter, commanding her Majesty’s ship “Donegal, in Liverpool, England. Disembarking with the rest of the crew, George is believed to have returned to Richmond, Henrico, Virginia where he is listed at age 40 as being a ‘Pilot’; living in the household of his father, T.C. Gifford.

Alabama Claims Vol. 1, “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

Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations

     from the State of Virginia, File M324, NARA

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

Gifford, Tom, Descendant

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

Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy, 1861 – 1865, 1983.]

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

William A. Temple, affidavit

1880 Federal Census, Virginia