On June 27, 1865, Waddell learned from a prize, "Susan &amp; Abigail", that General Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia almost three months earlier at Appomattox Court House. "Susan &amp; Abigail"'s captain produced a San Francisco newspaper reporting the flight from Richmond of the Confederate government 10 weeks previously. However, the newspaper also contained President Davis' proclamation that the "war would be carried on with re-newed vigor." Waddell then captured 10 more whalers in the space of seven hours just below the Arctic Circle.