Six months after Robert E. Lee Surrendered at Appomattox, the last Confederate ship surrendered. Due to slow communication James I. Waddell was unaware that the war ended.
The CSS Shenandoah was a Confederate ship used to demolish Union merchant ship. This same ship also carried prisoners of war. In an attempt to dodge pirates, Waddell traveled south around Cape Horn to avoid pirates. On his way to San Francisco, Wadell was told the war ended and surrendered the CSS Shenandoah in Liverpool, England.