University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Confederate States Cruiser Raiders During the Civil War

Getz, Lowell L.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125946

Description

Title
Confederate States Cruiser Raiders During the Civil War
Author(s)
Getz, Lowell L.
Issue Date
2025-02-16
Keyword(s)
  • Confederate Cruisers
  • Confederate Raiders
  • CSS Alabama
  • CSS Archer
  • CSS Chickamauga
  • CSS Clarence
  • CSS Florida
  • CSS Georgia
  • CSS Lapwing
  • CSS Nashville
  • CSS Shenandoah
  • CSS Sumter
  • CSS Tallahassee
  • Confederate Privateers
  • Civil War
Date of Ingest
2025-02-16T14:46:35-06:00
Abstract
At the beginning of the American Civil War, the Confederate States government recognized it could not confront the Union navy on equal terms. There were insufficient shipyards and funds to provide the number of ships and river boats to match those of the Union. The Confederates therefor resorted to use of raiders and privateers to intercept Union merchant ships on the high seas. Some of the ships involved were cruisers, construction of which was contracted from British ship builders. Others were steamers purchased and converted to armed cruisers. Privateers were also involved in preying on Union merchant ships. Participating owners of merchant ships, augmented with modest armament, were provided with letters giving them authority to prey on Union shipping. This account reports the detailed actions of the Cruisers and lists the merchant ships captured by the privateers.
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
essay
Language
eng
Copyright and License Information
Text Copyright, 2025-02-16, by Lowell L. Getz. All Rights Reserved.

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