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Commander James Dunwoody Bulloch, the Confedrate agent in England was directed to procure ships for the Confederate States Navy. The Oreto had been completed and sailed to the Bahamas where John Newland Maffitt commissioned her and put to sea. Bulloch was now preparing for the launching of hull number 290, a ship being constructed under a contract between Bulloch and John Laird Sons and Company (now cammill-laird). The south had a number of persons in Europe for the purpose of procuring supplies and equipment, and for providing other support to the war effort. Her financial agent was the firm of Fraser, Trenholm Company, a prominent cotton broker in Liverpool.

Bulloch engaged a civilian crew and captain to sail the 290 to the Azores where she was to receive armament, coal, and provisions.

Captain Semmes rendezvoused with the ship in the Azores and commissioned her on the high seas. It is noteworthy that the CSS ALABAMA never touched North American soil during her 22 month life.

In Semmes words, "she was barkentine rigged, with long lower masts, which enabled her to carry large fore and aft sails, as jibs and trysails, which are of so much importance to a steamer, in so many emergencies. Her sticks were of the best yellow pine, that would bend in a gale, like a willow wand, without breaking, and her rigging was of the best of swedish iron wire. The scantling of the vessel was light, compared with vessels of her class in the federal navy, but this was scarecely a disadvantage, as the ALABAMA was purchased as a scourge of the enemy's commerce, rather than for battle. She was to defend herself, simply, if defense became necessary." She had a 300 horsepower engine and a condensor to provide fresh water for the crew. "she was a perfect steamer and a perfect sailing ship." The propellor could be detached from the shaft and hoisted out of the water so as to reduce drag when under sail alone. She could make 10 knots under sail and once, under sail and steam both, ALABAMA made thirteen and a quarter knots. Her armament consisted of six 32-pounders in broadside and two pivot guns amidships, one (a 100 pounder rifled Blakely) was on the forecastle and one (a smooth bore 8 inch gun) was abaft the mainmast. The Blakely was so light that it became overheated after a few rounds, and the charge had to be reduced because of the tremendous recoil. Thus, it was of little use in a prolonged engagement.

ALABAMA carried a crew of 120 men and 24 officers.

The cost of the ship was $250,000.

Over the next 22 months the ALABAMA cruised the whaling grounds around the Azores, the shipping lanes along the eastern seaboard of the U.S., the Carribean, the Brazilian coast, along South Africa, the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the Bay of Bengal boarding 447 vessels, capturing 65 Union merchant vessels, and sinking the U.S.S. Hatteras. She was at sea for 534 of the 657 days of her life. During this time she took 2,000 prisoners with no loss of life. Until the engagement with the KEARSARGE she lost not one man to accident or disease aboard the ship.