Every month we offer a tantalising glimpse of just a few of the riveting tales that await the reader in Journals published each year since 2002. 

This month we feature ‘The Sinking of the Alabama and the Quest of Mary Elizabeth Low’ by John Hussey in Journal 22. 

 Liverpool had strong political, emotional and financial connections and sympathies with the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861-1865). These strong links made Liverpool the obvious choice for organising supplies and aid for the Confederacy. A fleet of Confederate blockade-runners and naval cruisers were to be built on Merseyside to help combat the Union supply ships. Built by Laird brothers the CSS ALABAMA in the course of 22 months boarded 447 ships of all nations, captured 75 Union vessels and destroyed them, took 2,000 prisoners, sank the Union warship HATTERAS, and engaged the U.S.S. KEARSARGE which was her final act.