The ship, following its commissioning on Oct. 19, 1864, embarked on a remarkable year-long commerce raiding cruise that would take its crew around the world. With the surrender of Lee’s Army at Appomattox, Va., in April 1865, Shenandoah carried on the fight for a lost cause. In doing so, it fired the South’s last shot and was the last unit to fly the Con- federate battle ensign.
