The C.S.S. Nashville was a 1,200 ton former passenger side-wheeler fitted as a commerce raider, commanded by Lieutenant Robert B. Pegram. She had burned the U.S. merchantman Harvey Birch on November 19, 1861, and then docked in Southampton for repairs. She entered dry-dock to repair storm damage from her Atlantic crossing but strictly observed British neutrality laws forbid any strengthening of her poor fighting capability. She completed her repairs and sailed from Southampton on February 3, 1862. (By John Osborne)