About the lecture:
The British-built CSSAlabama, commanded by Capt. Raphael Semmes, was the most successful of all Confederate commerce raiders. The cruiser captured or burned 65 Union merchant ships and the sidewheeler gunboat USSHatteras. After two years of roving the seas searching for prey,Alabamarequired major repairs and was put into Cherbourg, France. There the sloop of war USSKearsarge, commanded by James Winslow, engaged and sankAlabamaon June 19, 1864.