CSS Alabama Historical Background Gallery

• Historical Background
• Methodology
• Findings
• Credits and Bibliography
• About

• 
• Introduction
• Building the CSS Alabama
• Union Spy Report
• Captain Raphael Semmes
• The Light of a Burning Ship
• Cruise of the CSS Alabama
• Semmes and His Crew
• Capture on the High Seas
• "Til Death We Will Defend Her"
• The USS Kearsarge
• The Last Battle
• Slipping Beneath the Waves

"(Semmes) understands just how to keep himself near to the hearts and in the confidence of his men, without in the slightest degree descending from his dignity, or permitting direct approach...in their way, they are proud of him and he returns the sentiments-- in his way."

-Arthur Sinclair, Two Years on the Alabama

Semmes and His Crew

While the Alabama's crew was overwhelmingly English, her officers mostly hailed from the Confederate "Old Navy." Several had served with Semmes on the CSS Sumter. Freeman, the engineer, and Low, the 4th Lieutenant, were British but had been living in the South when the war began and joined with the Confederate cause. Semmes is seated in the center of the front row.