Past Event – Speaker Series: August 17, 2025 Donald Bastin – Rebels at the Gate
Once again, Moraga Historical Society members were treated to a little known history lesson during the Aug. 17 speaker event. Donald Bastin, local author (“Images of America: Richmond” and “Images of America: El Sobrante”) and president of the El Sobrante Historical Society, discussed Alcatraz Island and San Francisco’s involvement in the Civil War.
Thanks to the Gold Rush (1848 – 1855), the unprecedented wealth coming out of the mines dramatically increased San Francisco’s ship traffic. A statement by then Brigadier General George Wright, Commander, Department of the Pacific, expressed the possibility of a Southern invasion. “Under the cover of darkness, or a fog, I have but little doubt that a steamer might pass the two forts [Alcatraz and Point] without serious injury. Once within the harbor she can take a position beyond the reach of the guns of Alcatraz Island, and, of course command the city.”
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Alcatraz, a Federal fort, had 111 smoothbore cannon, rows of open gun emplacements carved out of the island’s slopes, and a fortified gateway (sally port), protecting the Bay from Confederate raiders hoping to sail into San Francisco and make off with California’s gold in order to bankroll the South’s losing cause.
Baskin’s presentation was titled “Rebels at the Gate”. Accompanied by extensive slides detailing Alcatraz’s arsenal, he regaled the audience with the true story of Captain James Waddell of the Confederate raider Shenandoah. On July 5, 1865, Waddell decided to venture from his Arctic Ocean voyaging to sail for California, more specifically San Francisco. His plans were to attack the ship Comanche and plunder the city, however, just off the coast he came across an English ship that had recently left the port. Waddell was informed of the discouraging news – the war was over, and so, he sailed into history without gaining the reputation that he had hoped for.
