The Famed North Carolina Sailor James Iredell Waddell. This story and article was published in 2010 by the Civil War Courier Newspaper.

1. The Famed North Carolina Sailor
A brief summation of the life of
James Iredell Waddell
FORMER UNITED STATES NAVAL OFFICER, USN
FORMER CONFEDERATE STATES NAVAL OFFICER, CSN
Lieutenant Commanding,
C.S.S. Shenandoah
By Martin CJ Mongiello © 2010 for Professor Christopher Jepson
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2. A brief summation of the life of James Iredell Waddell, Former Commissioned United States Naval Officer, USN, Former
Commissioned Confederate States Naval Officer, CSN, Lieutenant Commanding, C.S.S. Shenandoah, By Martin CJ Mongiello
T hose demons of the past that were extinguished on the wrong side of the
war should be forever forgotten - within time and history. Regardless of your
previous contributions to a society, once you are found on the losing side,
your existence on earth shall be erased from all history books. Is that your
opinion, reader, for the likes of Robert E. Lee and General George Custer?
Each lost and was found to be on the wrong side of an issue. Once blame can
be ascertained and proven, doesn’t it follow within nature to next affix
punishment? For this is the course of history, the course of all natural things
and all of our courts and proceedings. Accusation, indignation, conflagration
= proof of guilt, agreed upon blame, concede therefore shame and finally –
punish.
I submit to you that often this is the case in history, after a war is finished
or battle is over. Few know of General Custer’s service at the battle of
Gettysburg and helping to save the Union from disaster. With the invasion of
the northern states, Harrisburg and Philadelphia were in a full panic and
evacuation calling to, “declare martial law” (Rhodes 230). But many can
quickly tell you they knew Lee was there and lost. But, what most remember
about Custer is that he lost at the great battle out west with the Indians. Few
know he was in the Civil War or at Gettysburg. Nor of his long a valuable
service in the Union army.
Which one should be removed from the history books then? Should it be
Lee for supporting the wrong side? Or Custer for his acts against the Indians?
True, your answer will most likely be that each was under orders from the
War Department to do their ordered duties or face a court martial.
S uch is the case with one of the most famous sailors in American history,
James Iredell Waddell. He, like Lee and Custer, started with the good guys
and later found himself depicted as a villain by many - for following out his
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3. A brief summation of the life of James Iredell Waddell, Former Commissioned United States Naval Officer, USN, Former
Commissioned Confederate States Naval Officer, CSN, Lieutenant Commanding, C.S.S. Shenandoah, By Martin CJ Mongiello
orders. That is a pity if you don’t know his real story and especially so if you
are a sailor, Navy or from North Carolina.
B orn in Pittsboro, NC, Chatham County, North Carolina he grew up in a
landlocked area of open fields, farming and rural life far away from anyone’s
mind of salt air, seagulls and the shrill whistle of a boatswain’s pipe. His air
was country baked apple pies in the air, the red cardinal bird of our state
landing in a nearby tree and the shrill whistle of a steam locomotive bustling
down the tracks from some distant town on the ocean.
In 1841, he received an appointment by Secretary of the Navy, George E.
Badger (under President Harrison), as an acting midshipmen and was ordered
to report to Commodore William B. Shubrick for duty on board the USS
Pennsylvania. She was a three-decked man of war complete with 120 guns.
She was the only kind of her lot in the United States Navy.
“I reported for duty, and I shall never forget the intelligent advice given to me
by Commodore Shubrick…Young gentleman you must remember that you
are now a servant of the people. They are taxed for your support, and you
should at all times be respectful to the people. They can dismantle the Navy
whenever they choose to exercise that power” (Waddell 54).
Here we see a lifetime basis of service to the people which will formulate most
opinions by Lieutenant Waddell. These are of being a servant and staying out
of politics and doing what you’re told to do as per your orders.
O nce the civil war begins, Waddell has already sailed about the earth and
utilized his tolerance in servitude to the great gain and prestige of the United
States. His service to the country spans more than twenty years of faithful
behavior, fidelity, zeal and obedience. He also graduated from the United
States Naval Academy and would later have a ship named after him, the USS
Waddell – DDG 24, a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer.
Upon notification that the country will rip itself apart so that a father can shoot
a son and a mother can spy on a brother – Waddell submits his resignation to
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4. A brief summation of the life of James Iredell Waddell, Former Commissioned United States Naval Officer, USN, Former
Commissioned Confederate States Naval Officer, CSN, Lieutenant Commanding, C.S.S. Shenandoah, By Martin CJ Mongiello
the Captain of his then assigned ship, the USS John Adams. He clearly states
that he has no inclination towards slavery or any of the issues at hand but
cannot possibly remain in the military and take up violence against his own
state and family. He later recants this and submits a letter to President
Lincoln himself. Regret fully, it proves a few days too late as the Department
of the Navy has already been angered and issued a dismissal letter. This was
often done in an attempt to disgrace the person – rather than accept their
resignation. On the Federal side of things, they might retort with, “He
disgraced himself when he submitted the letter to begin with – so if there is
anybody here who is disgraced then we did not do it.” Can the reader
understand both sides of the story? I think so.
Hero becomes villain in this classic thriller or hero becomes hero – it all
depends on how you view the story. In March of 1862 he is Commissioned
as a Lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy and is assigned to the ironclad
CSS Mississippi in New Orleans and various other theaters of war like
Drewry’s Bluff in Virginia and Charleston. Finally he is sent overseas and
stationed in England awaiting orders for a raider or ironclad to take to sea. If
he is lucky, he will get one of the newer ships being built to destroy Yankee
cities and still stand up to the growing fleet of monitors (most all designed
after the style of the original USS Monitor with a turret).
O n October 5th, 1864 he will receive his orders from CSN Flag Officer
Samuel Barron in Paris to destroy the US merchant fleet, worldwide, in the
CSS Shenandoah. He will be the only Confederate flag to circumnavigate the
globe, rip open the fleets by fire and smoke, continue the Civil War well
beyond Lee’s surrender in April…May, June, July – cruising, torching, firing
his cannon relentlessly while taking prisoners, bounty and prizes until August
of 1865 – he ceases.
For many, they will tell you the actions and cannons fired in the anger of the
war ended in the Spring of 1865. They did not. They will also tell you the
last Confederate flag was taken, burned or handed over then as tulips started
to show their green stems – wrong again. It would be a global Confederate
Navy man from North Carolina who captured 38 ships, burned 32 and took
1,053 prisoners while cruising 53,000 miles to continue bearing the flag six
months after the war had ended.
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5. A brief summation of the life of James Iredell Waddell, Former Commissioned United States Naval Officer, USN, Former
Commissioned Confederate States Naval Officer, CSN, Lieutenant Commanding, C.S.S. Shenandoah, By Martin CJ Mongiello
Later, after the war and his sailing of CSS Shenandoah from the Pacific back
to England he will become Captain of the commercial steamer City of San
Francisco. Returning to the United States in 1875, he later commanded the
state of Maryland’s Oyster Regulation Force - close enough to provide
influence as a former instructor of the US Naval Academy. He passed away
at Annapolis, Maryland on March 15, 1886.
As part of the exercise for this white paper three position points are afforded
to Captain Waddell to express himself in the 1840’s and 1850’s and how he
thinks leading up to the war.
O N FREE LABOR: I am well known to be a good and decent gentleman
(Jones 119) to all and appreciate free labor. In the rains and squalls of the
North Atlantic or Pacific our ships “are manned by free labor and the spirit of
independence. With the ice storms, frigid weather upon us and myself a farm
boy from Pittsboro, North Carolina - I lead a Navy that embraces free labor -
to survive. Also, please take note the United States Navy in which I have now
served for twenty years – already has free blacks serving on board ships!
Unlike the Army, we live with the threat of death in each day on the oceans of
the world and form a common brotherhood of survival. Such is why I
embrace free labor in all regards. Let all see what free men working together
at sea can accomplish when faced with survival. The whip is not needed with
slaves to win, my friends. It is not needed” (Mongiello 1)
S TATES RIGHTS: I am for many of the rights of states but hold for the
power of the overall Federal government to be in charge. However, one of
my rights recently exercised (which is not legal in all states) is the right to duel
with pistols such as my favorites of a Navy 36 or 44 Octagon. I recently
elected to defend a matter over a lady and in my home state dueling as
outlawed in 1802 – regardless my shootout occurred in Maryland (Stevens
451). The reader can see my point clearly, no?
“Those of you reading may be surprised to find that, I have no contest in
taking sides against the Federal flag. In my resignation letter to the Secretary
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6. A brief summation of the life of James Iredell Waddell, Former Commissioned United States Naval Officer, USN, Former
Commissioned Confederate States Naval Officer, CSN, Lieutenant Commanding, C.S.S. Shenandoah, By Martin CJ Mongiello
of the Navy I stated, “In thus separating myself from association’s which I
have cherished for twenty years, I wish it to be understood that no doctrine of
the right of secession, no wish for disunion, of the state’s impel me, but simply
because my home is the home of my people in the South, and I cannot bear
arms against it or them” (Waddell 66) (Mongiello 1-2).
P OPULAR SOVEREIGNTY: “I am constantly reminded of the fact that
I am an advocate of popular sovereignty…in our fine country where those who
are elected consider themselves to be servants. Such is the manner of most
naval men who on a daily basis find themselves inside a floating prison, awash
on the seas of the world. You will find that naval men espouse to 1the
greatness of a flag that they fly under…Naval men, such as me, have little
regard for the political mockery and carnival that some leaders desire to create
for themselves in government” (Mongiello 2).
We tend have a more worldly air being exposed to other nations and other
governments on a continual basis we see the imperfections in each and see the
wars in each as well. We elect restraint therefore based on a global view of
religion, government and what you think is unjust, righteous or needs
changing. We have seen it all, see it each week and listen to those who rattle
sabers daily – my colleagues; a bit more travel around the world by you would
enlighten you greatly. Popular sovereignty is far better than a seated King or
Queen born divine, by birth alone. The popular voting procedures of
majority and elections and ballots are on my plate for things I endorse and
support.
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Teaching and Learning Classroom Edition, Combined Volume, The
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7. A brief summation of the life of James Iredell Waddell, Former Commissioned United States Naval Officer, USN, Former
Commissioned Confederate States Naval Officer, CSN, Lieutenant Commanding, C.S.S. Shenandoah, By Martin CJ Mongiello
Francisco, London, Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo, Mexico City, Paris, Cape
Town, Hong Kong, Montreal: Prentice Hall, 2009. 388-421
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1961. 119
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Enlisted Impression.” Camp Chase Gazette Sep. 1995: 39
Mongiello, Martin. “Lieutenant James Iredell Waddell responds to three
topics of question.” US History – HIS 1010, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh,
2010: 1-2
“Of duels, fighting and boxing.” The Civil War Sailor and Marine Magazine
and Association. 1994. 10 Jan. 2010. http://www.cwsmma.com/duel.htm
Rhodes, James, History of the Civil War, 1861-1865. New York: The
Macmillan Company, 1917. 230
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Joanna Lamb, Nathan Gillett Pond, William Abbatt. “The code in North
Carolina.” The Magazine of American history with notes and queries,
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Waddell, Alfred. Some memories of my life. Raleigh: Edwards &
Broughton, 1908. 96-97
Waddell, James, James Horan. C.S.S. Shenandoah, The Memoirs of
Lieutenant Commanding James I. Waddell. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press,
1960. 54
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