Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Bottle |
Catalog Number |
0985.03.00019 |
Description |
Bottle: Glass bottle, light blue in color, of a dark liquid (brandy). Sealed with wax, apparently originally red; subsequently re-sealed with additional white wax. Remnants of wax floating in the liquid. |
Material |
Glass/Wax/Cork/liquid |
Dimensions |
H-5.5 W-2 D-1.5 inches |
Owned |
Irvine S. Bulloch; Georgiana F. Gholson Walker [Mrs. Norman Stuart Walker] |
Owner Regiment |
CSS Shenandoah |
Event |
Surrender at Liverpool, England, November 1865 |
Provenance |
A partial bottle of brandy from the medical stores of the CSS Shenandoah. Given to Georgiana F. Gholson Walker [Mrs. Norman Stuart Walker] by the officers of the ship upon her arrival in Liverpool, England in 1865. "Sealed bottle of brandy. The last of the hospital stores of the cruiser 'Shenandoah.' It was given to Mrs. Norman Stewart Walker by her officers afer the arrival of that man of war at Liverpool, England, in 1865." (donor note) "...Irvine Bulloch, uncle of the present Pres. USA, was one of the officers who presented me with this last drop of 'Aqua Vita' of Confederate memory. Bulloch was also an officer on the 'Alabama' when she was sunk by the 'Kearsage'. I promised him that I would send this brandy to him, as a wedding gift, if ever he married. And...he did marry - but married a Northern woman and I felt it was not tactful to make this offering as theirs was a large gathering of Northern friends - so I now offer it to you…." (donor letter) This bottle of brandy may have been captured from the "Abigail", which became one of the CSS Shenandoah's prizes. On May 27, 1865, the Shenandoah captured the whaling bark "Abigail", in the Okhotsk Sea off the coast of Siberia. The "Abigail" was carrying 20 barrels of whale oil, but also had 50 barrels of brandy, rum, whiskey and gin, together with 180 cases of "assorted spirits, wines and ciders" on board. It is unknown why Captain Nye of the "Abigail" had so much alcohol on board, but it was labelled, "for medicinal purposes only". |
People |
Walker, Georgiana F. Gholson [Mrs. Norman Stuart] Gholson, Georgiana F. Bulloch, Irvine Stephens |
Search Terms |
Surrender at Liverpool, England, November 1865 |
Subjects |
Alcoholic beverages Beverages Drinking Food gifts hospitals Liquor Medical care Medical equipment & supplies Medicine navies women |