American Civil War | Shenandoah Down Under

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 38

Posted on July 14, 2015 in css Shenandoah

In part two of Rob and MOB’s interview with author and historian Chris Gidlow, Chris continues to entertainingly detail the tortuous history of the Confederate States’ attempts to design a suitable flag – one that couldn’t be confused with the Stars & Stripes on the battlefield, or look like a flag of surrender. This somewhat contentious process had not reached a satisfactory conclusion when the war, um, ended. Chris also recounts the history of the first Confederate flag to be torn down, a trend that has just recently once again become fashionable…

Back 150 years ago on the CSS Shenandoah, the ship heads back to the relative safety of the (ice-free) Pacific. Two major events ruffle the peace of onboard life. The first is Captain Waddell’s 41st birthday, planned to be celebrated by all in the finest ‘Knobby’ style, complete with roast pig, lots of liquor, and ‘splicing the mainbrace’ (so that the crew can drink the captain’s health). What could spoil this auspicious occasion? Why, the Ship’s cat could. When pussy cat is thought to have gone overboard a terrible storm erupts, just as sailors’ superstition predicts. Will the ship turn over? Will the cat be saved? Will Lieut Whittle (not a cat fancier) be convicted of being a Jonah? Find out in episode 38 of Shenandoah Down Under, the one with the cat.

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 36

Posted on June 30, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Whaling

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When the American Civil War comes to Alaska the officers and crew of the CSS Shenandoah have their day in the (admittedly coolish) midsummer sun. There are unsuspecting prizes aplenty, and the only thing that can save the hapless whalers is ice and fog, which tends to be rather prevalent up towards the Arctic circle.

Amid the destruction of proud ships and valuable property Executive Officer Whittle finds time for a little moral reflection on the futility of war and comes up with a noble resolution – as long as you define ‘burn them all’ as noble.

Will Midshipman Mason get to read any more of Les Miserables when he is so busy making Yankees miserable? Which captain’s widow had her ship spared because her husband’s body was on board in a barrel of whisky? Find out in episode 36 of Shenandoah Down Under, the one with the burning. . . .

Shenandoah down Under Episode 35

Posted on June 23, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Whaling

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It is the best of times and the worst of times for the CSS Shenandoah and her crew, in a week that is so busy that they have to have two Thursdays to fit it all in (sailing back and forth over the international date line will do that). For a start they find whalers: lots and lots of whalers, in fact too many to capture all at once! There are prizes and prisoners aplenty, but the news that the whalers carry is deeply disturbing – for the first time the crew of the Shenandoah hear of the assassination of Lincoln and the surrender of Lee. What to do when you hear such grave news? Find out in this dual Thursday episode of Shenandoah Down Under.

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 34

Posted on June 16, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Whaling

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With the Shenandoah unable to proceed any further into the Sea of Okhotsk, the crew reluctantly abandons Siberian waters and start sailing out through the Kuril Straits, and towards the Arctic Circle. For three weeks there has been only one prize. The Officers are muttering about the captain, the mates are fighting duels (sort of) in steerage, and Captain Waddell is no doubt getting buttock clenching practice as he navigates his ship through fog without hitting ice or land. But what is that off in the distance? Is it a fleet of sails. No, it’s a fleet of whales! And if there are whales, can whalers be far away?

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 32

Posted on June 3, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Whaling

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After a month of little excitement, the CSS Shenandoah captures the whaler Abigail, in the Okhotsk Sea off the coast of Siberia. The Abigail is carrying twenty barrels of whale oil, but also has fifty barrels of brandy, rum, whiskey and gin, together with 180 cases of ‘assorted spirits, wines and ciders’ on board. To make things plain, that is a lot more liquor than whale oil. Quite what Captain Nye of the Abigail was doing with so much alcohol has been lost to history, but it was labelled, ‘for medicinal purposes only’, so clearly he was careful of the health of his crew and of the local Inuit.

There must have been a lot of sick people on board the Shenandoah, because for the next four days there was (quote), “Hell to pay among the crew.” When Sherman said ‘War is hell”, he probably wasn’t thinking about this….

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 28

Posted on May 6, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Whaling

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As the CSS Shenandoah scuds north, towards towards the Russian sea of Okhotsk (not to be confused with toddlers fashion label Oskosh Bigosh) they look in vain for a sail on the ‘China Path’, the route between San Francisco and the Orient. With not a prize in sight, Midshipman Mason wrestles with one of the most difficult parts of the sailors life – making himself a new pair of pants.

150 years later, Rob and MOB recount some of the strange tales found in “Leviathan, the History of Whaling in America”, by Eric Jay Dolin, including the epic tale of the great stone fleet. This was the Yankee’s plan to blockade the harbours of the South, using sunken whaling ships to block the harbour channels. What happens when BOTH sides of the Civil War are busy sinking Whaling ships? Find out in episode 28 of Shenandoah Down Under, the one with the pants.

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 27

Posted on April 29, 2015 in css Shenandoah

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As the Shenandoah moves deeper into the Pacific Michael and Robert are delighted to welcome Hawai‘i Pacific University associate professor of History Justin Vance, who has just been named the 2015 Hawaii History Educator of the Year. Justin takes us through the suprisingly profound and long lasting consequences for Hawaii and other Pacific islands caused by the American Civil War. Hawaii started the Civil War as the world’s great centre of whaling support, an industry that the Shenandoah did it’s very best to destroy. But the Civil War was also Hawaii’s salvation, as the North’s insatiable appetite for sugar could no longer be slaked by the Southern plantations. Find out how ‘the voyage of the Shenandoah connects the Civil War to the world’, on this weeks episode of Shenandoah Down Under.

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 25

Posted on April 15, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Sea Shepherd

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With the Shenandoah about to land in Pohnpei in what is now the Federated States of Micronesia, Rob, Mob and guest Rick Meints step back a bit to consider events in early April in the sideshow theatre of the American Civil War that was actually happening in America, populated by minor and little known figures called Lincoln, Grant and Lee.

Also, in the present day, the Sea Shepard ship the Bob Barker claims the prize of an illegal fishing vessel, proving once again that while history doesn’t repeat, it sure does rhyme….

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 24

Posted on April 7, 2015 in css Shenandoah

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With the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the CSS Shenandoah at the Caroline Islands, now the Federated States of Micronesia, Mob and Rob reflect on the reign of the the king who gave his name to the islands, Charles II of Spain, last of the Spanish Hapsburgs, a family who though that too much in-breeding was never enough! Charles had one black testicle, no blood, a heart the size of a peppercorn, and a head full of water. And that was just his autopsy report. He was even weirder when he was alive.

Back at the American civil war, the last battles are winding down and Lincoln, Grant and Sherman meet to discuss peace. The Shenandoah however, meets a Hawaiian vessel, who tells them of four ships at harbour in Pohnpei. Will they be Yankees? Will assistant surgeon McNulty take a good hard look at himself and embrace sobriety? Find out on this weeks episode of Shenandoah Down Under.

Shenandoah Down Under Episode 23

Posted on April 1, 2015 in css Shenandoah, Sea Shepherd

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With the Shenandoah travelling through the equatorial Gilbert Islands, Rob and Mob reflect on the famously laconic declaration of victory made by the American General in the Second World War who took the main island, Makin, from the Japanese. The declaration was, of course, “Taken Maken”, which manages to be shorter than Veni, Vidi, Vici by one word (so take that, Julius Caesar).

Back in modern times, this episode has the second half of our interview with Barry Crompton, of the American Civil War Round Table of Australia, launching his Ebook “Dixie Down Under”. What Ship in the Sea Shepard fleet was originally going to be called the Waddell? How many US warships have been called the Shenandoah? What was US consul Blanchard’s connection to the Harriet Beecher Stowe’s massive hit “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Find out in this weeks episode of Shenandoah Down Under, and leave a comment by 13 April 2015 for a chance to win a copy of Barry’s Ebook.