Sunday 2 May 2010

The extraordinary story of CSS Alabama

 


What a fine and beautiful ship. Many of the crew were fellow Brits. Captain Semmes offered them positions when the ship was sailed from Liverpool to the Azores Island. Here she had her name changed and cannons loaded. Unfortunately, not enough Confederate sailors could get past the Union blockade so Captain Semmes offered some of the Brit sailors positions aboard for good wages. Most accepted and two years and many adventures later a few survived the final battle against the Union battleship off of Cherbourg in France. They were picked up by curious onlookers who wanted to see two modern day ships duel in the Channel. Captain Semmes survived too, and he paid all the Brit crewmen in full. He was a noble gentleman of the South.

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