Thank you again for the comments and questions - which only lead to yet more comments and questions.
Jine - You passed comment about Raphael Semmes' sword. It is in the USA, in the possession of a family member. You also ask about the shell in the rudder post - please read below.
Selma Hunter - Thank you for the offer, I will PM you from my office computer, and send you a few images in return!
The CSS Alabama was built in the Birkenhead Yard, in Liverpool, as Hull #290, and later commissioned as the Spanish steam ship Enrica. Liverpool was a veritable hive of both Confederate and Union agents. The Union knew exactly what was going on, and complained the English government about supplying the South with war materials. This accusation was denied, but they did pay a "fine" after the war to the Union. The vessel left Liverpool with an English crew with many dignitaries on board, for a supposed trial cruise. Behind a small local island near Liverpool, the unwanted supernumeraries were passed over to an attending tug, and the Enrica ran for the Azores. She was met by Semmes and his officers, who had arrived on the Bahama, along with the supply ship Agrippina that carried all of the armaments and other necessary supplies for a commerce raider. The Enrica was converted, and Semmes commissioned her into the Navy. Some 85 sailors, from the three ships - all from Liverpool, became crew members. Regardless of where the men came from, they sailed and fought bravely for the South. The total roster, was something on the order of 150 officers and men. If I recall correctly, the CSS Alabama sank or captured ~ 65 Union vessels. The Union Navy put many ships to sea, with the sole intent of finding her, and sinking her.
The CSS Alabama put into Cherbourg, in France, with the intent of resupplying and doing numerous repairs to the ship - after ~ 21 months at sea. One of her major problems was ammunition, as her lockers were less than ideal and not exactly water proof. Black powder is hydroscopic, and absorbs water over a long period of time. The powder was in effect damp, which made the timing on the fuzes questionable - damp powder burns slower (but how much slower?), and sometimes they flat out did not burn. During the battle with the USS Kearsage, the Alabama fired more than twice the number of shells, and hit the Kearsage repeatedly. Yes, the Kearsage was using anchor chain as an added layer of armor, but the shells failed to explode on time! Lt. Kells' gunners were good, no doubt about it, but the powder and fuzes were damp. One of the 7" Britten shells ended up in the Kearsage's rudder post, and failed to explode. When the vessel was repaired, the rudder post was replaced, and the section with the shell cut out and put on display. The shell had a Preston percussion fuze in it, and I have often wondered if it was ever emptied of powder? We had one of the sister shells here in the Lab, I will have to dig out some images from the archive. I have read the story about the Kearsage sailor, and the lead seal on the fired shell, and often wondered . . . was it a bad fuze, was the lead seal still there, was it just explained as having the lead seal to rationalize it not having exploded? Digging in and finding out the rest of the story, is what makes it all the more interesting.
Once again, Many Thanks.
Jim J.
PS - I have re-read some of my posts, and apologize for my poor spelling!
