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[]
The CSS Alabama worked its way down the east coast of Florida during the month of November to Martinique to rendezvous with her supply vessel, the CSS Agrippina, and ran into the USS San Jacinto, narrowly escaping the Union warship. The CSS Alabama then made her way to Texas to help defend the state from invasion from Gen. Banks Expedition, and fought the USS Hatteras, before escaping to the South Atlantic.
From this raiding area off the coast of New England, the 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[]
| Date | Ship Name | Ship Type | Location | Disposition of Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 30, 1862 | Parker Cooke | Merchant | Near Semana Bay, Dominican Republic | Burned 30 Nov 1862 |
| December 5, 1862 | Mina | ? | Released on $15,000 ransom bond due to neutral English Cargo | |
| December 7, 1862 | Ariel | Merchant | Caribbean Sea | Released on $261,000 bond 9 Dec 62 |
| January 11, 1863 | USS Hatteras | U.S. Navy | Near Galveston, Texas | Sunk by firefight 11 Jan 63 |
| January 27, 1863 | Chastelaine | Brig | Near Jamaica | Burned 27 Jan 1863 |
| January 29, 1863 | Golden Rule | ? | Near Jamaica | Burned 29 Jan 1863 |
| February 3, 1863 | Palmetto | ? | 27d 18' N; 6d 16' W | Burned 3 Feb 1863 |
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
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The original article can be found at CSS Alabama's Gulf of Mexico Expeditionary Raid and the edit history here.