In the early 1980’s a project was commenced by Roy W. Parker, a member of the American Legion in Sydney, Australia, to compile a list of veterans of the American Civil War who are buried in Australia. Since then, three other members of the American Civil War Round Table of Australia, Inc., Barry J. Crompton, Bob Simpson and myself, Terry Foenander, have assisted Roy in locating documentation and grave sites of these veterans. Information has come from several sources, including the List of Pensioners on the Rolls, 1883; and the US Consular Despatches (available, on microfilm, at various Australian libraries). For more information on these veterans, or if further details can be provided on these or other veterans buried in Australia, please contact Barry Crompton or Terry Foenander.

Acknowledgements are also due to the National Archives and Naval Historical Centre, both in Washington, DC. and Richard E. Winslow III, Portsmouth, NH; Carol Laun, Salmon Brook Historical Society, Granby, CT and last, but not least, Ed Milligan, Alexandria, VA.

SAMUEL SHERWOOD BISSELL, born September 17, 1842 in Fairfield County, CT. Early years spent at Norwalk. Appointed a Mate in the Union Navy,0ctober 17,1862, under instruction at New York. In early l863, served on the ARIZONA. Captured at Pointe Coupee, LA, on June l5, l863. Released at the capture of Vicksburg in July l863 and invalided home. Reported for duty on the double-ended gunboat, AGAWAM, on March 15,1864. On June l,1864, he was transferred to the Union Naval vessel SHENANDOAH and in November, 1864 to the JUNIATA. Resigned from naval service on April 27,1865. Arrived in Australia about twenty years later and lived in Rockhampton and then Mount Morgan, QLD where he died on April 2, 1906. He lies in an unmarked grave at the Mount Morgan Cemetery.

FREDERICK OTTO GUSTAV FINCKE was born January 8, 1848 in Saxony, Germany. He arrived in New York City in June, 1848 with his parents who had fled the political troubles in Germany. In 1854 the family moved to Brooklyn, NY. Frederick enlisted in the US Navy as Third Class Boy aboard the NORTH CAROLINA, on February 7, 1862 and about two weeks later was detached to the CAYUGA. This vessel served in the action against the Forts, St. Philip and Jackson, LA. on the morning of April 24, l862. During this action Fincke was wounded in the left foot which was subsequently amputated. He was transferred to the Naval Hospital at Pilot Town, LA., and then to Brooklyn, NY. On June l, 1864, he was appointed a Mate, serving at the Boston Naval Rendezvous. This appointment was revoked on May 5, 1865, as his services were no longer required, but, in less than two months, he was re-appointed to this grade and attached to the Post Office at the New York Navy Yard. However, on September 27, 1865, his appointment was once again revoked for "removing postage stamps" from letters entrusted to his care. Shortly after this he sailed for Australia, residing first in Melbourne, and then in Adelaide, where in 1874 he married Elizabeth Schroder. Fincke seems to have had a troubled life, dying in poverty on September 29, 1893. He was buried in Ordinary Ground at the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. His grave remains unmarked but a Veterans Administration plaque installed at the entrance to the cemetery commemorates his Civil War service.

JEREMIAH MITCHELL was born at Yarmouth, ME., on November 13, 1838. Very little is known about this officer, except that he was appointed a Mate in the US Navy on May 23, l863 and served aboard the naval vessels FARALLONE, LANCASTER, NARRAGANSETT and the SQUANDO. He was appointed an Acting Ensign on January 27, l864 and was discharged at Washington, DC., on August 28, 1865. As a Mariner after the war, he sailed to Australia, where he died in Melbourne on December 6, 1869 and is buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery.

MORTIMER STANLEY PORTER was born in CT. on October 24, 1831.At the age of sixteen, he decided that the life of a sailor was his calling; and by the age of twenty-one he was captain of a vessel owned by a Manchester firm, engaged in the West India trade. On March 9, 1864, he was appointed an Acting Ensign in the US Navy and in December of that year he was attached to the ALBATROSS. On October 21, l865, he was honorably discharged from naval service and shortly after returned to the merchant marine. Porter was captain of the American registered ARRACAN when he died in Melbourne on January 19, 1872.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON was born in Glasgow, Scotland about 1840. After serving an apprenticeship as engineer in his home town, he left for America, where, on November 15, 1861, he was appointed an Acting Third Assistant Engineer and served aboard the FLAMBEAU before resigning, January 24, l863, because of ill-health. Following his resignation, Richardson arrived in Australia where he continued as an engineer in the ASN Company, in Brisbane and then in Sydney. Joining the Public Works Department in Sydney he served until his retirement about 1904. He died on August 7, l923 and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery.