The only Confederate ship to circumnavigate the globe

The Confederate cruiser Shenandoah was the last of a group of commerce raiders deployed to prey on Union merchant ships. Ordered to the Pacific Ocean to “greatly damage and disperse” the Yankee whaling fleet in those waters, the Shenandoah’s successful pursuit of her quarry compared favorably with the exploits of the more celebrated Alabama and Florida but has never been as well known because it coincided with the war’s end and the Confederacy’s downfall. It was, however, one of the best documented naval expeditions—from England to the Indian Ocean, Australia and the South Pacific, the Bering Sea, San Francisco, and finally to port in Liverpool—during the Civil War.
 
The ship’s log and Captain James Waddell’s notes are well preserved, and a number of the Shenandoah’s officers kept detailed journals of the entire voyage. One of the most significant journals, by Lieutenant William Whittle, is presented here, with annotations from other journals, the official records and logs, and newspaper accounts of the Shenandoah’s activities, together bringing to life the history of this remarkable voyage.
 

D. Alan Harris is an associate professor emeritus of history at Old Dominion University.

Anne B. Harris is an adjunct assistant professor of history at Old Dominion University.

“The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah is an invaluable primary source about what life was like on board a Confederate commerce raider and the kind of men who sailed on them.”
—Journal of Southern History
 
“Students of the Confederate Navy will want this volume for its detailed observations of an historic, albeit strategically sterile, cruise and its insights into the personnel and operations of the service. For others, it will provide both authentic seagoing adventure and food for thought on the nature of command at sea.”
—Civil War Book Review

“The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah is a worthy addition to Confederate naval history as well as general Confederate history. It will be of especial interest to Civil War navy buffs but as a general naval history and introduction to Confederate commerce raiding, it makes an excellent read and is highly recommended to other readers.”
—Civil War News
 
“All told, The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah is a good read, very well annotated, and a must for anyone interested in Civil War or Confederate naval history. It will no doubt take a rightful place as a cornerstone volume in the study of Confederate naval history.”
—International Journal of Naval History

“William Whittle's diary in The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah: A Memorable Cruise is a valuable addition to the study of the Confederate naval service. With the inclusion of introductory material that summarizes the careers of Whittle and the Shenandoah, this book will serve its readers well by providing a window into further research of the ship, its crew, and the circumstances and effects of its memorable cruise.”
—H-Net, Humanities Social Sciences Online