The Sloop of War CSS Alabama in Combat

Presented by John V. Quarstein, Director Emeritus, USS Monitor Center

Lecture begins at 2:30 PM

Civil War lectures are free with Museum admission, but reserving a seat is suggested as seating is limited. Reserve seats below.

Although most remembered for its spectacular cruise capturing 65 Union merchant ships, the CSS Alabama was designed as a sloop of war and engaged two Union warships during its illustrious career. The first was the side-wheeler USS Hatteras on the evening of 11 January 1863. The Hatteras, a very successful blockader, fought the Alabama off Galveston, Texas, and was sunk in 20 minutes. The Alabama continued its cruising until the raider put into Cherbourg, France. There the sloop’s escape route was blocked by USS Kearsarge, culminating in the dramatic sinking of the Alabama in June 1864.

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