Civil War’s sail of the century

IN the summer of 1865, a Confederate warship sails into the port of Melbourne and 42 men secretly enlist to fight for the South in the American Civil War.

On the notorious raider Shenandoah – scourge of the Yankee merchant fleet – they sail off to adventure and controversy, and end up firing the last shot of the war.

About 120 Australians are known to have fought in the American Civil War, on both sides.

For Australia – which was not yet a nation – 1865 was a watershed year in an age of gold rushes, bushrangers, disputes between the colonies, and fears of foreign invasion.

And in war-torn America, the year was a turning point. After the defeat at Gettysburg, Title: Australian Confederates Author: Terry Smyth Publisher: Ebury Australia RRP: $34.99

the tide had turned against the Confederacy but the South was determined to fight on and, in the war at sea, the raider Shenandoah was the last best hope. Its mission was to damage the North’s economy by attacking its commercial fleet.

When its commander, Captain James Waddell, learned General Robert E. Lee had surrendered, he refused to believe the cause was lost. The Shenandoah continued harrying the Yankee fleet and fired the last shot of the war after capturing, burning and ransoming 38 Union ships and taking more than 1000 prisoners.

Of the 42 men who signed on in Melbourne, some returned home, others dropped out of sight and one died aboard ship – the last man to die in the service of the Confederacy.

Smyth has written story.

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