William Kenyon, Confederate States Marine.

by Terry Foenander.

Prior to the publication of the volumes relating to the Alabama Claims, in 1872, and subsequently, there were a large number of witnesses who gave evidence to U.S. authorities about the activities of the Confederate cruisers during the late War Between the States. These witnesses were not only interrogated within the continental United States, but in some overseas nations as well.

One of these countries was Australia, where the CSS Shenandoah had stopped over in Melbourne in January 1865, for repairs and provisions (and, as it turned out, to recruit personnel aboard the vessel). After her departure from the port, on February 18, over forty 'stowaways' were found on board, who were promptly enlisted into Confederate States Naval service. One of these enlistees, William Kenyon, was taken into the service of the Confederate States Marine Corps, in which he served until the vessel was surrendered to the English authorities some nine months later.

Six years after the end of the war, the U.S. Consul in Melbourne had been attempting to gather as much evidence from witnesses and participants in the events of January and February, 1865, when the Shenandoah had called in to Melbourne. Some of these documents can be found amongst the papers of the U.S. Consular dispatches sent from Melbourne, and what follows is one such dispatch relating to a small amount of information provided by William Kenyon, late CS Marine:

Consulate of the United States of America

at Melbourne, March 28th, 1872.

To the:

Hon. J.C. Bancroft Davis,

Agent of the United States

Care of U.S. Minister, Paris.

Sir:

On the 22nd inst., I advised you that my efforts to obtain further information in the case of the "Shenandoah" had been fruitless.

I have now to report that in spite of the apparent hopelessness of the case I continued my efforts, and on the 23rd, I learned from George W. Robbins, stevedore of Sandridge, the port of Melbourne, that his foreman thought he could find some of the men who enlisted on the "Shenandoah" at this port.

I immediately hastened to Sandridge and was told that for a consideration the men should be forthcoming. I promised to be liberal and an engagement was made for the morning of the 25th inst. At the appointed time the foreman of Robbins brought to this office one William Kenyon and stated that three more men who had enlisted on the "Shenandoah" at this port should be produced next day. I then interrogated Kenyon with the following result.

William Kenyon, aged 28 years, a native of the colony and, at the time of the visit of the so called Confederate vessel of war "Shenandoah," in 1865, a resident of Melbourne, stated to me that having learned by common report that the said vessel wanted men, decided with some others to enlist in her service. That they had understood - also from common report - that the commander of the "Shenandoah" did not wish to see them come on board and accordingly he and six other men, on the night previous to the departure of the "Shenandoah," at eleven o'clock p.m. took a boat and rowed themselves to said vessel. That they went on board and only saw one man on deck, who took no notice of them. They then went below and secreted themselves in different parts of the ship.

The next day the ship proceeded to sea and some time after the pilot left they came on deck. That the process of enlisting them did not commence until the ship was some six or seven miles outside of Port Philip heads and that as there were forty one men who came aboard as "stowaways," the process of enlisting them occupied several hours.

The said Kenyon further stated that he enlisted on the "Shenandoah" as a marine and served in that capacity until the arrival of the "Shenandoah" at Liverpool several months afterwards.

That in the meantime he served and was present at the capture of several American vessels in the Pacific and Arctic oceans and in the Okhotz sea. That of these captures he has a most distinct recollection of the capture of a vessel called the "Jireh Swift." That he was finally discharged and paid off at Liverpool. That previous to their discharge, an officer at Liverpool, believed to be British, had the crew of the "Shenandoah" mustered and made to pass in front of him, and as they passed that officer said to each of them "You are a Southerner?" That some of the crew of the "Shenandoah" responded by nodding their heads while others made no sign but passed on.

After Kenyon had made the above statements in answer to my questions, I asked him to make the same in presence of a Notary Public.

He agreed to do so and I hastened to call on my solicitor who agreed to verify the declaration.

I was not absent three minutes but on my return Kenyon said he must first see another person before he would sanction the deposition.

All arguments were fruitless and he went away. Later on he returned and vacillated but would not come to positive terms. I then sent for the other men but before they could be reached, Kenyon had seen them and, as it appears, persuaded them to place themselves in his hands in order to get a large sum from me for their evidence.

Here the matter rests and my efforts to break up this dead lock have so far been unavailing.

I have the honor to be, Sir

With greatest respect,

Your most ob'dt servant,

(Signed) Thomas Adamson, Jr.

U.S. Consul.

****

Kenyon eventually returned to Melbourne where he resided until his death in 1915.

Copyright, Terry Foenander.

August, 2000.