The Approach of the British Pirate "Alabama"

The article that this illustration accompanied described how the British navy was supporting the Confederates: “Every British dock-yard is now engaged in building steamers to capture and burn our merchantmen, to run our blockade, and to bombard our defenseless sea-board cities. . . . The merchants, shipbuilders, and newspapers of England all claim the right of furnishing the rebels with a navy, and denounce us furiously for objecting to their conduct.” Here Homer depicts the alarm and consternation of the Union ship’s passengers as they are being approached by the British vessel, the Alabama.