CSS Alabama

History

When war broke out between the states on April 12, 1861, the South sent representatives across Europe in hopes of various war supplies. Commander James Dunwoody Bullock was a Commonwealth agent stationed in England responsible for supplying naval ships to the growing Commonwealth fleet.

Funding was obtained through a local cotton broker - Fraser of Trenholm, Liverpool, and after acquiring the cruiser "Oreto" (later CSS Florida), Bulloch moved to a new design with the hull number " 290. Yes. Construction cost is $250,000.

Hull 290 was built at the John Laird Songs & Company shipyard in Liverpool under the name of the merchant "Enrica" ??and launched on 9 July 1862 with a civilian crew to avoid attention. The crew sailed to the Azores, where the ship was handed over to Captain Rafael Semes and formally armed, stockpiling coal, and providing food and supplies for the upcoming voyage.

After going to sea, Semes officially commissioned the ship on August 24, 1862, to name it "CSS Alabama". She was given the battle motto "Help yourself and God will help you".

The wreck of the CSS Alabama was discovered in 200 feet of water near Cherbourg in 1984 by the mine hunter "Circe" of the French Navy, leading to an initiative in 1988 to use the ship as an archaeological vessel in the name of United Franco Recycle. America struggles to find it. The CSS Alabama Society was established in Mobile, Alabama to monitor the status of the find and to actively work with French authorities and archaeologists to uncover additional shipwrecks (which are located in French territorial waters).

Some of their artefacts have since been recovered and taken upstairs for formal inspection to understand the daily life and combat conditions of Confederate Navy sailors.

Here is USS Kearsarge Capt. Winslow's actual report to then-acting US Navy Secretary Gideon Wells - on the battle with CSS Alabama:

American Cassage,

June 19, 1864, Cherbourg, France

Commander: I have the honor to inform the department that on the 14th day after the Kearsarge arrived at the port, I received a message from Captain Semmes asking the Kearsarge not to set sail like him, intending to fight her, not Delay her for more than a day or two.

Accordingly, the Alabama departed Cherbourg Harbor at approximately 9:30 am today.

10:20 am. m. We found her walking towards us. Concerned about possible jurisdictional issues, we sailed out to sea until we were 6 or 7 miles from the Cherbourg Pier, and then we sailed around Alabama.

When we were within about 1,200 yards of her fire, we received two or three flanks and then fired back. The action continued, with the respective ships making a round to and fro at a distance of about 900 yards.

An hour later, the Alabama hit and sank about 20 minutes later, taking many people with it.

It is with great satisfaction that I report to the Ministry of Magic that every officer and soldier has carried out their duties with the composure and courage that guaranteed a certain victory from the outset.

I am honored to be your obedient servant,

JNO. A. Winslow,

Captain

Dear GIDEON WELLES

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