Poster depicts the Battle of Cherborg between the CSS Alabama and the USS Kearsarge in 1864 during the American Civil War.

After five succesful commerce raiding missions in the Atlantic Ocean, CSS Alabama  turned into Cherbourg Harbor on June 11, 1864. The rebel sloop-of-war  was commanded by Captain Raphael Semmes, formerly of CSS Sumter. It was Captain Semmes intention to dry dock his ship and receive repairs at the French port. The Confederate Navy vessel was crewed by about 170 men and armed with six 32 pound (15 kg) cannons, one 110 pound (50 kg) cannon and one 68 pound (31 kg) gun. The Alabama  had been pursued for two years by the screw  sloop-of-war USS Kearsarge, under Captain John Winslow. The Kearsarge was armed with two 11 inch (280 mm) smoothbore Dahlgren guns, four 32 pound guns and one 30 pound Parrott rifle. She was manned by around 150 sailors and officers.

Kearsarge had armor-clad, chain cable triced in tiers along her port and starboard midsections. This armor protection gave the Union warship a good advantage over the rebel raider. On June 14, Kearsarge finally caught up with Alabama as she was receiving repairs. Kearsarge did not attack, instead she waited, initiating a blockade of CSS Alabama in Cherbourg Harbor. Union Captain Winslow telegraphed USS St. Louis to request her assistance. Confederate Captain Semmes used the time to drill his men for the coming battle. On June 19, CSS Alabama, with nowhere else to go, ran up the Stars and Bars and exited the harbor to attack Kearsarge. She was escorted by a French Navy vessel whose mission was to ensure that the ensuing battle occurred outside the French harbor.

Historical references courtesy of wikipedia.org