Editing CSS Shenandoah (section)

===Last lowering of Confederate flag===
CSS ''Shenandoah'' sailed from off the west coast of Mexico via [[Cape Horn]] to Liverpool, a voyage of three months and over {{convert|9000|nmi|mi km}} and was all the while pursued by Union vessels. She anchored at the Mersey Bar at the mouth of the estuary awaiting a pilot to board her to guide the ship up the river and into the enclosed docks. The pilot refused to take the ship, which was not flying any flag, into Liverpool; the crew raised the [[Flags of the Confederate States of America#Second flag: the "Stainless Banner" (1863–1865)|Confederate flag]]. CSS ''Shenandoah'' sailed up the River Mersey with the flag fully flying to crowds on the riverbanks.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

The ''[[Liverpool Mercury]]'' reported the event on Tuesday, 7 November 1865:

{{blockquote|THE CONFEDERATE CRUISER SHENANDOAH IN THE MERSEY.

Considerable excitement was caused on 'Change yesterday morning by circulation of the report that the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah, of whose exploits amongst the American whalers in the North Pacific so much has been heard, was passed about 8 o'clock by the steamer Douglas at anchor at [[Liverpool Bar|the bar]], of Victoria Channel, apparently waiting for high water. By many the report was discredited, it being thought that those on board the Douglas were in error, and had mistaken some other craft for the celebrated ex-Confederate cruiser. At half past ten, however, all doubts on the point were set at rest, with the Shenandoah steaming up the Victoria Channel with the [[Palmetto flag]] flying from her masthead.<ref name="whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk"/>}}

{{HMS|Donegal|1858|6}} happened to be anchored in mid-river between Toxteth in Liverpool and Tranmere in Birkenhead. Captain Waddell maneuvered his ship near to the British man-of-war, dropping anchor. CSS ''Shenandoah'' was surrendered by Captain Waddell to Captain Paynter of HMS ''Donegal'' on 6 November 1865. The Confederate flag was lowered again for the last time, under the watch of a [[Royal Navy]] detachment and the crew.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

CSS ''Shenandoah'' had struck her colors twice. This marked the last surrender of the American Civil War and the last official lowering of the Confederate flag. The very last act of the Civil War was Captain Waddell walking up the steps of [[Liverpool Town Hall]] with a letter to present to the mayor surrendering his ship to the UK government.<ref name="whenliverpoolwasdixie.org.uk"/> ''Shenandoah'' was the only Confederate warship to circumnavigate the globe.{{citation needed|date = November 2015}}

The United States Naval War Records published in 1894:

{{blockquote|''The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of Rebellion''

November 5 – Arrived in the Mersey, off Liverpool, and on Monday, the 6th, surrendered the Shenandoah to the British nation, by letter to [[Lord John Russell]], premier of Great Britain. (signed) JAMES I WADDELL.<ref>United States Government Printing Office, 1894</ref>}}

After the surrender, CSS ''Shenandoah'' was berthed in the partially constructed [[Herculaneum Dock]] awaiting her fate. Once the international legalities were settled, she was turned over to the United States government.<ref>[http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_css-alabama-crew-of-the-british-isles_32.htm The confederate surrender] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928050330/http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/news_css-alabama-crew-of-the-british-isles_32.htm |date=2006-09-28 }}</ref>