The connection starts with one James Dunwoody Bulloch of Georgia. He arrived in Liverpool on 4th June having reported for duty on the 8th May 1861. (Co-incidentally I married on the 8th May!).
His brief was to obtain or have built 6 steam ships for use as commerce raiders. His lawyer, F.S. Hull of Liverpool, overcame the legal difficulties of this, and Bulloch found his first ship. This was the CSS Florida, built by Fawcett + Preston, with W.C. Miller + son.
Then came the first Birkenhead connection, no.290. 290 was the USS Alabama. She was referred to by the number, the 290th ship built by Lairds, to keep the secrecy of what she was to become. Alabama was launched 29th July 1862, and went on a sea trial. Only a little way from shore the ship hove to and all passengers disembarked. Alabama then sailed to the island of Trecira in the Azores to meet the supply ship Agrippina to take on board guns and ammunition. She cost the Confederacy £47,046, and was described by Lairds as "the best cruiser of her class in the world".
A further two ships were built by Lairds, but the British Government must have realised what was happening as they impounded them. Lairds later sold them to the Royal Navy.
Bullloch stayed in Liverpool where he died in January 1901. He is buried in Toxteth Cemetery with an inscription by The United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1968, and the words on the base American by Birth, Englishman by Choice.
CSS Florida took or destroyed 36 ships before being sunk "by accident" in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
CSS Alabama took or destroyed 69 ships before being sunk off Cherbourg, France
CSS Shenandoah took or destroyed 38 ships before being sailed into Liverpool and surrendering on 6th Nov 1865, long after hostilities had ceased, with many vessels being sunk in the interim.
CSS Tallahassee (Olustee) took or destroyed 35 ships before arriving in Liverpool as the Chameleon and being impounded.
After the war the US took Britain to court saying that GB had helped the raiders by giving them shelter and supplies in British ports around the world. The courts upheld this view, and Britain had to pay £3,000,000 in recompense.