The Civil War Navies Message Board

John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.

Does anyone have any additional data on African American sailor, John Williams, a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, who served briefly on the CSS Shenandoah, please? In a sworn statement he made to the US Consul at Melbourne, where he managed to leave the Confederate cruiser, in February, 1865, Williams indicated that he had also served in the US Navy, and was on the USS Congress, when that vessel was sunk at Hampton Roads, in March, 1862. He also stated that he had been discharged from the USS Minnesota. This would have been in 1862 or 1863, as he later served in the merchant marine, and was captured aboard the bark De Godfrey by the CSS Shenandoah, and impressed into service in the Confederate Navy.
I am especially trying to confirm his service aboard the CSS Congress.

Messages In This Thread

John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.
Re: John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.
Re: John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.
Re: John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.
Re: John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.
Re: John Williams, CSS Shenandoah.