Divers recover cannon from CSS Alabama in English Channel

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer ^ | Tue, Jul. 12, 2005

[ex-Texan]

PAR35 -- sorry about dropping the 'h.' My bad.

burlywood -- only part of the Alabama's crew was British. The English were supposed to be neutral during the Civil War. But you are correct, Brits fought bravely with their Confederate mates on board the CSS Alabama.

AnAmericanMother -- found this the site below which is dedicated to your brave Bulloch relatives:

When Liverpool was Dixie

List of the Alabama's Victims. Which is why Bulloch's ship is regarded as "greatest commerce raider of all time."

Britain had been claiming neutrality throughout the war. Later a crewman turned against the CSA and signed a formal affidavit giving rise to the now famous diplomatic dispute. The British were forced to pay $ 15.5 million in damages to the U.S.

[kalee]

CSS Alabama ping

[AnAmericanMother]

Now THAT is doggone obscure!

I like it!

Afrikaans looks like a cross between Plattdeutsch and Dutch . . . I can actually read it, much to my amazement. (I do read High German and Plattdeutsch)

[AnAmericanMother]

Neat stuff! My collateral relations were clearly very busy during the war.

My lineal ancestors, on the other hand, were hauling around artillery and riding horses on dry land.

[lepton]

Captain Charles W. Pickering

Didn't President Bush nominate him to an Appeals Court? :)

[canalabamian]

Over here.

Dixie Ping?

[stainlessbanner]

dixieping

[concentric circles]

There's an interesting side bar to this story.

After the Alabama sank the USS Hatteras off the coast of Texas on Jan 11, 1863, some California miners from Southern states named the area of their claims, in the shadow of Mt. Whitney, the Alabama Hills.

When news reached the area that the Kearsarge had sunk the Alabama another group of miners with opposing sympathies promptly registered the area of their claims as the Kearsarge Mining District.

The mining camp and growing town became Kearsarge City. A nearby pass through the high Sierras became Kearsarge Pass.

The taunting did not stop there. Soon a prominent peak in the area was named Kearsarge Peak and a ridge of rocky crags became Kearsarge Pinnacles, rising majestically over Kearsarge Lakes.

Of course the Navy maintained the tradition of ships named Kearsarge. The current, and fourth namesake, is an amphibious assault ship. The USS Kearsarge puts the Marines' unique brand of chaos wherever freedom is at risk.

The Alabama Hills, in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine, CA.

Kearsarge Pinnacles overlooking Kearsarge Lakes. Hiking access via 11,760 foot Kearsarge Pass by way of Onion Valley road, terminating at a 9,200 foot campground.

The USS Kearsarge, delivering United States Marines worldwide.

[stainlessbanner]

Great pix. Salute!

[LibertarianInExile]

It is a very good series, as is the Turtledove series "the Great War." And if you haven't read his "Guns of the South," you better.

[75thOVI]

Howzabout something in English?

"ROLL ALABAMA ROLL!"

When the Alabama Keel was laid

Roll Alabama Roll

It was laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

It was laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird

Roll Alabama Roll

It was laid in the town of Birkenhead

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

Down the Mersey Way she rolled then

Roll Alabama Roll

Liverpool fitted her with Guns and Men

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

From the Western Isles she sailed forth

Roll Alabama Roll

To destroy the commerce of the North

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

To Cherbourg Port she sailed one day

Roll Alabama Roll

To take her count of prize money

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

Many a Sailor lad foresaw his doom

Roll Alabama Roll

When the Kersage move in view

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

A Ball from the forward pivot that day

Roll Alabama Roll

Shot the Alabama's Stern away

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

Up the three mile limit in 64

Roll Alabama Roll

The Alabama Sank to the Ocean floor

Oh! Roll Alabama Roll

When the Alabama's Keel was laid

Roll Alabama Roll

It was laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird

Roll Roll Alabama Roll

[hedgetrimmer]

Interesting historical sidebar. Thanks for posting.

[w_over_w]

Thanks for the ping . . . a good read with insightful follow up.

[bourbon]

I think Arthur C. Clarke once quipped (something to the effect of) "Dutch Afrikaans is the only known language which bruises listeners when spoken."

I always thought that was funny.

[bourbon]

Great story! I drove through the Owens Valley 2 years ago, but I missed out on the great backstory to the place names. I 'm certain I drove right past the Alabama Hills!

[w_over_w]

Enjoyable sidebar . . . I'm getting out the Atlas as I write to look up those landmarks.

BTW, a very inspirational profile page . . . thank you sir.

[GretchenM]

The 7,000-pound main battery pivot gun of the Confederate sea raider CSS Alabama has been recovered from the bottom of the English Channel, where the vessel was sunk 141 years ago by a Union warship, a project spokesman said.

One of my favorite chapters in the Civil War: taking out the guns before they can be aimed at you.

[Valin]

The cannon was brought to the surface by the French naval vessel Elan

Which promptly surrendered.

[archy]

Howzabout something in English?

"ROLL ALABAMA ROLL!"

When the Alabama Keel was laid ... .

That's a pretty little tune, [mp3 link]somewhere between a seaman's chanty and a dirge- which seems appropriate.

But in English? Well, sort of....

[archy]

I think Arthur C. Clarke once quipped (something to the effect of) "Dutch Afrikaans is the only known language which bruises listeners when spoken."

Hoe sê jy dit in Afrikaans? Obviously, A.C.C. never had a Finnish girlfriend.