CSS Shenandoah

John Hill was born in Ireland and at some point migrated to Australia, ending up in Melbourne, Victoria. Hill was living there when the Confederate Cruiser, the “CSS Shenandoah” arrived in Port Phillip Bay on January 25, 1865.  Upon arriving 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 by saying that he had problems with the propeller shaft on the “Shenandoah”, which was a good enough reason 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."

The “CSS Shenandoah” made its way to the city of Sandridge, now known as Melbourne, and was placed in dock 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, Hill abandoned everything else and went down to the Sandridge docks, and quietly 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 sea and was out of Australian watersp; then he came out, and by placing his mark beside his name on the ships log, on February 18th, 1865, for $29.10, he became a member of the “Shenandoah” crew as an able bodied seaman. Hill was also one of the signatories who expressed confidence in the command of Lieutenant James I. Waddell, in a petition dated September 1865.   

John Hill 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; afterwards going ashore with the rest of the crew.

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.

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

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