For 22 months the Alabama roved the oceans from South America to the China Sea, capturing 65 Union ships, most of which were burned. Her 75,000-mile maritime epic, worthy of Gone With the Wind, was the most devastating cruise in the history of commerce raiding. Insurance rates shot sky-high, and the Union merchant marine was almost put out of business as shippers turned to neutral vessels for their freight. In fact, the U.S. merchant marine never regained its pre-war prosperity.

The Alabama was a "screw sloop," meaning she could cruise as a fully rigged sailing ship, but also had twin steam engines and a retractable propeller for quick bursts of speed to elude pursuit or close in on her prey when the orders "Up funnel! Down Screw!" were given. The raider marked a key phase in the evolution of ship propulsion. Her naval artillery, too, was in a transitional stage. She carried six smoothbore, 32-pounder guns, firing solid shot and two shell-firing, rifled "pivot guns," which could swivel on their carriages. Built primarily for speed, the fine lines of the Alabama's copper-plated wooden hull gave her exceptional elegance and maneuverability. Captain Semmes was justly proud of his ship, which, he said, "sat upon the water with the lightness and grace of a swan."

© C. Henze 1999