A Metamorphosed merchantman.
The
Shenandoah had been a merchantman at one time engaged in the
East India trade.
She was a full-rigged ship, 220 feet long, thirty-five feet beam, with iron masts and lower yards.
She carried royal studding sails, and was rigged with patent reefing topsails (that is, you reefed the sail by lowering the yard), and her standing rigging was of wire.
Her engines were small, and only intended to assist in case of calm.
When not in use, her propeller could be hoisted out of the water and her smokestack lowered like a telescope flush with the deck.
Under favorable circumstances, she could steam ten knots and sail sixteen.
Her armament consisted of eight broadside guns, namely: four eight-inch shell guns, two thirty-two pound
Whitworth and two twelve-pounders.