Premieres Thursday, August 3 at 8 PM

During the American Civil War, Raphael Semmes was captain of the cruiser CSS Alabama, the most successful commerce raider in maritime history. Semmes was later denounced by Abraham Lincoln as a ‘pirate’, with a bounty on his head by the US Navy Department. A combination of documentary and dramatization from multiple viewpoints, the story of the CSS Alabama – and Semmes himself – is a cautionary tale of bravado and rebellion.

SAIL & STEAM POWER SAIL & STEAM POWER

CSS Alabama used both sail and steam power and had exceptional speed.

EVADING BRITISH NEUTRALITY EVADING BRITISH NEUTRALITY

Evading British neutrality in the Civil War, the Alabama was built secretly in Liverpool using the latest technology.

GIDEON WELLES GIDEON WELLES

Gideon Welles, U.S. Secretary, searched for the Alabama for 22 months without success.

MANY BRITS FAVORED SOUTH MANY BRITS FAVORED SOUTH

Many Britons - though anti-slavery - favored the South and regarded Semmes as a type of Robin Hood character.

NORTHERN VIEW OF SEMMES NORTHERN VIEW OF SEMMES

Northern view of Semmes as a pirate.

NORTHERNERS CELEBRATED NORTHERNERS CELEBRATED

Northerners celebrated when the Alabama finally met its end.

PAINTING OF BATTLE PAINTING OF BATTLE

Painting of battle between CSS Alabama and USS Kearsage off Cherboug, France.

SEMMES PORTRAIT GALLERY SEMMES PORTRAIT GALLERY

Raphael Semmes, National Portrait Gallery.

SEMMES NAVY OFFICER SEMMES NAVY OFFICER

Semmes as a U.S. Navy officer, 1850’s.

SEMMES BECAME FAMOUS SEMMES BECAME FAMOUS

Semmes became famous as he continued to burn Union merchant ships and evade capture.

SEMMES WITH OFFICERS SEMMES WITH OFFICERS

Semmes with officers on the Sumter, his first Confederate commerce raider in 1861.

THE ALABAMA IN CAPETOWN THE ALABAMA IN CAPETOWN

The Alabama in Cape Town, covered by the London Illustrated News.

SAIL & STEAM POWER EVADING BRITISH NEUTRALITY GIDEON WELLES MANY BRITS FAVORED SOUTH NORTHERN VIEW OF SEMMES NORTHERNERS CELEBRATED PAINTING OF BATTLE SEMMES PORTRAIT GALLERY SEMMES NAVY OFFICER SEMMES BECAME FAMOUS SEMMES WITH OFFICERS THE ALABAMA IN CAPETOWN

Made possible through the generous support of:

Ben May Charitable Trust
Alabama Humanities Alliance
Betty McGowin Charitable Trust
Paul & Alma Fischer Education Endowment

Produced in partnership with:

Alabama Department of Archives and History
City of Birmingham