CSS Alabama's Gulf of Mexico Expeditionary Raid

CSS Alabama fighting USS Hatteras.

The CSS Alabama's Gulf of Mexico Expeditionary Raid commenced shortly after the Alabama left Bermuda and the Atlantic coast and cruised south toward the island of Dominica in the Caribbean Sea near the Gulf of Mexico. The raid lasted from about the middle of November, 1862 to the end of January, 1863.

The primary area of operation during this expeditionary raid, was the southern seaboard of the United States starting from Dominica then ranging up along Cuba and to Galveston, Texas before finally heading south again toward Jamaica.

Raid overview

CSS Alabama worked its way down the east coast of Florida during the month of November to Martinique to rendezvous with her supply vessel, CSS Agrippina, and ran into USS San Jacinto, narrowly escaping the Union warship. CSS Alabama then made her way to Texas to help defend the state from invasion from Gen. Banks Expedition, and fought USS Hatteras in the Action off Galveston Light naval battle, before escaping to the South Atlantic.

From this raiding area off the coast of New England, CSS Alabama made her way into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to continue her unhindered wrecking of enemy commerce along the North American coastline.

Raid bounty

References

• Hearn, Chester G., Gray Raiders of the Sea, Louisiana State Press, 1996. ISBN 0-8071-2114-2
• Luraghi, Raimondo, A History of the Confederate Navy, U.S. Naval Institute Press, 1996. ISBN 1-55750-527-6

CSS Alabama
Leadership & Men	Raphael Semmes John McIntosh Kell James Dunwoody Bulloch Irvine Bulloch John Laird Sons and Company
Expeditionary Raids	Eastern Atlantic New England Gulf of Mexico South Atlantic South African Indian Ocean South Pacific
Yards & Ports of Call	Birkenhead Azores Cape Town Flores Island Corvo Island Martinique Simon's Town Cherbourg
Battles	Action off Galveston Light Battle of Cherbourg
List of ships of the Confederate States Navy