Dear Mr Rigby,

Coincidentally, I was travelling in the American South last week on a research trip for my own dual history of the USS Kearsarge and the CSS Alabama when I read of your effort in a little Tennessee newspaper. It is possible, though, that you may be able to help me with the Alabama's enlisted men, most of whom hailed from Britain--especially the Liverpool region. While I've found several diaries from enlisted men and junior officers on the Kearsarge, I've been predictably unlucky in the hunt for similar accounts from their counterparts on the Alabama. I have two crew lists--one from Sinclair's Two Years on the Alabama and one from the National Archives, which differs slightly, but beyond the names (or noms de guerre) I have no clue of the crewmen's backgrounds.

I regret that I learned of your work so late, for I am going to England early next month, arriving in London August 4, but perhaps we can be of mutual assistance.

William Marvel dated July 11 1993.

Extract from a letter dated August 22 1993

I wouldn't be so quick to just donate your work to the Museum, either; you've do a great deal of research and I think you presented it rather well, so that a local publishing house might be interested in putting it out for you.

My story of Samuel Henry was first published in the 290 Newsletter of Birkenhead Ironworks & CSS Alabama Trust, Issue No 4 November 1989. I have many letters from relatives, and archives all over the world some dating from 1989 now held by the Liverpool Maritime Museum. Time will tell Terry, if the other sources can produce theirs.

I had to reply to your last message Terry