On this day 2 August - the final act of the American Civil War

[7eat51]

On the 2nd of August 1665, the CSS Shenandoah, under the command of Captain James Iredell Waddell, was en route to attack San Francisco when she learned of the end of the American Civil War from the Liverpool barque Barracouta. Waddell immediately took down the Confederate flag and transformed the Shenandoah from a man-of-war to a merchant vessel. Fearing being tried as privateers by a U.S. court, Waddell set course to Liverpool, the ship's unofficial home port. On the 6th of November, Captain Waddell officially lowered the Confederate flag for the last time, and performed the final act of the American Civil War, surrendering the Shenandoah to the British government.

James Iredell Waddell:



CSS Shenandoah:



Pencil sketch of CSS Shenandoah by Captain Waddell:




For more on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Shenandoah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Iredell_Waddell

[Nightmoss]

Eventually sold off to the First Sultan of Zanzibar? That's surprising.

[csadn]

On the 2nd of August 1665,

The ACW was 450 years ago? ;)