History moves in strange ways. Consider the case of the Confederate ship CSS Stonewall, which never fired a shot during the Civil War. The ship was built in France to serve the Confederate navy, but thanks to staunch Union diplomatic opposition, eventually ended up in Washington without firing a shot. Ultimately the Japanese bought it from the Washington navy yard for $400,000 in 1867 and brought it to Japan.
From Dixie to the Land of the Rising Sun
