CSS Shenandoah

William Glover, whose surname is shown as Gloon in one source, was born in the United States and at an early age migrated to Australia. Upon his arrival he made his home in the Melbourne area and was there at age 24, in 1865, when the Confederate Cruiser, the “CSS Shenandoah” arrived in Port Phillip Bay, off Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on January 25, 1865 to resupply. Also needing additional crewmen, word got out, against the wishes of the Australian authorities who forbade anyone to board the Confederate warship, as men began to appear eager to join her crew.

When Glover tried to go aboard he was taken into custody by the Australian Water Police and was taken before the Williamstown Police Court, in Melbourne, on February 16, 1865; charged with a ‘breach of the foreign enlistment act’.  There was no evidence found against him, and, being an American by birth, he had to be released shortly afterwards. Still intent on joining the “Shenandoah” crew, Glover returned to the port and secretly made his way aboard the “Shenandoah” again; this time being hidden out by the crew.  Once the “Shenandoah” had left Melbourne and made its way out of Australian waters, Glover placed his mark beside his name on the crews roster on February 18th, 1865, and for $29.10 became a seaman aboard the “CSS Shenandoah”. Glover spoke fluently in the Polynesian language, which was a benefit to the ship, and did so well aboard the Cruiser that he was rated a sail maker’s mate on March 21st, 1865. Glover was also one of the signatories who expressed confidence in the command of Lieutenant James I. Waddell, in a petition in September, 1865. He remained with the “Shenandoah” until its surrender the U.S. Consul, in Liverpool, England.

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

CSS Shenandoah Deck Log, March 21st, 1865

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

Lieutenant William C. Whittle Jr., Executive Officer,  128;

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

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

William A. Temple, crewmember, 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