CSS Shenandoah

John Williams was born in England and migrated, like many others, to Australia to begin a new life. On February 17, 1865, living in the Melbourne area, John learned the Confederate Cruiser; the “CSS Shenandoah” had made port in Port Phillip Bay, off Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on January 25, 1865, to resupply before continuing her raiding of Union vessels on the open sea. Ignoring authoritative orders for locals to not board the “Shenandoah”, he went aboard anyway and hid out until the “Shenandoah had set sail and was once again in international waters. John then signed aboard the “Shenandoah”, placing his mark beside his name as a 3rd class boy at a pay rate of $12.00; on February 18th, 1865. John Williams was one of the signatories who expressed confidence in the command of lieutenant James I. Waddell, Captain of the “CSS Shenandoah, in a petition dated September, 1865.  

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

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

Geoff Dougall, Williamsown Maritime Association

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

Susan Parsons, Client Services Manager, Altona Memorial Park

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