CSS Alabama's Gulf of Mexico Expeditionary Raid

The CSS Alabama's Gulf of Mexico Expeditionary Raid commenced shortly after the CSS 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 sank 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

CSS Alabama's Gulf of Mexico Expeditionary Raid

Date	Ship Name	Ship Type	Location	Disposition of Ship
November 30, 1862	Parker Cooke	Merchant	Near Semana Bay, Dominican Republic	Burned
December 7, 1862	Ariel	Merchant	Caribbean Sea	Captured & let go
January 12, 1862	USS Hatteras	U.S. Navy	Near Galveston, Texas	Sunk by firefight
January 27, 1862	Chastelaine	Brig	Near Jamaica	Captured

References

• Hearn, Chester G., Gray Raiders of the Sea, Louisiana State Press, 1996. ISBN 0807121142
• Luraghi, Raimondo, A History of the Confederate Navy, U.S. Naval Institute Press, 1996. ISBN 1557505276