Alabama The
The Alabama She struggles to live, gasping for her last breathes in a vain attempt to stay atop the waves. ... That describes the final moments of the Confederate State Ship Alabama. ... He traveled to the provisional capital of the Confederacy in Montgomery, Alabama. ... The ship’s band played Dixie, Semmes gave a speech, and the ship was once again rechristened, the Alabama. The Alabama was ready to begin its reign of terror over Yankee shipping. ... Semmes and the Alabama met with enormous success. ... The Alabama left the Azores and set sail for the Canadian coast. ... The hunt for the Alabama had begun. Alabama’s wake of destruction now led to the Gulf of Mexico. By this time, January of 1863, the Alabama had destroyed a total of twenty-two Union vessels, which were valued at $1,542,211. On January 5, 1863, Alabama encountered the Union blockader U. ... In the concluding battle, the Hatteras was soundly defeated and sunk by the Alabama. It marked the first and only warship the Alabama sunk, and the first time in history a steam-powered warship sunk another steam-powered warship. ... By the time Alabama had left South America she had sunk another 13 ships, and captured one small barque which Semmes had turned into an auxiliary ship for the Alabama. ... There was little action in Africa, and Alabama only captured three ships in three months. ... Vanderbuilt assigned to track down the Alabama, Semmes sailed to the East Indies. Asia was also disappointing; the Alabama again only managed 3 kills. After nearly two years of non-stop service the Alabama was in disrepair and the crew was restless. ... Alabama made several kills on the return trip, which brought her total to 66 ships worth $5,163,143. As the Alabama limped to Cherbourg, France for dry-dock repair, the ship is leaking badly and listing towards her port side. ... On her return to Europe Alabama is not half the proud ship it used to be. Unfortunately, all the dry-dock slips at Cherbourg are occupied by the French Navy, and Alabama will be forced to sail to Le Havre if is to have hope of being repaired soon. Meanwhile the Union government receives word of Alabama’s presence in Cherbourg and dispatches the U. ... Winslow, a former shipmate and friend of Semmes, to seal off Cherbourg harbor and prevent the escape of the Alabama. Unlike the Hatteras which was a clumsy, slow, underpowered, makeshift vessel, the Kearsarge was equal to the Alabama in most aspects.