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Victorian library seeks American civil war diary chronicling Australian link Victorian library seeks American civil war diary chronicling Australian link
(3 months later)
A rare diary chronicling a controversial stopover by American civil war sailors in Melbourne could soon be in Victorian hands.A rare diary chronicling a controversial stopover by American civil war sailors in Melbourne could soon be in Victorian hands.
Uncovered in Nashville by an Australian dealer, the diary of young lieutenant Dabney Scales tells the story of the Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah.Uncovered in Nashville by an Australian dealer, the diary of young lieutenant Dabney Scales tells the story of the Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah.
The highly successful commerce raider, which sank 38 Union merchant ships, only stopped in port once, in Melbourne in 1865.The highly successful commerce raider, which sank 38 Union merchant ships, only stopped in port once, in Melbourne in 1865.
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The three-week visit was divisive, with the crew honoured at gala balls while the US consul pleaded with Victorian authorities to impound the ship.The three-week visit was divisive, with the crew honoured at gala balls while the US consul pleaded with Victorian authorities to impound the ship.
Though the stopover was well-documented by Victorian newspapers, no original material from the ship is held in Australian collections.Though the stopover was well-documented by Victorian newspapers, no original material from the ship is held in Australian collections.
Making that a reality will cost about $75,000.Making that a reality will cost about $75,000.
“Civil war documents like this very rarely come on to the market and would usually be snapped up by an American institution or private collector,” the State Library Victoria chief executive, Kate Torney, said in a statement on Monday.“Civil war documents like this very rarely come on to the market and would usually be snapped up by an American institution or private collector,” the State Library Victoria chief executive, Kate Torney, said in a statement on Monday.
The diary contains first-hand observations by Lieutenant Dabney M Scales as well as sketches, sailors’ accounts and photographs from his time on the Shenandoah crew.The diary contains first-hand observations by Lieutenant Dabney M Scales as well as sketches, sailors’ accounts and photographs from his time on the Shenandoah crew.
The Shenandoah captured or sank 38 Union merchant ships before its surrender in Liverpool in November, 1865.The Shenandoah captured or sank 38 Union merchant ships before its surrender in Liverpool in November, 1865.