Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Excellent Civil War era view showing 5 large war ships in the harbor at Simon's Town. During the Civil War ships of the Union and Confederacy docked at this port including the famous Confederate raider, C.S.S. Alabama, while she was operating in this area on one of her raids. The Confederate cruiser visited Simon's Town in 1863, and her Captain Raphael Semmes, was entertained at the Admiralty House. Backmark: W. Bremner, Photographer, Simon's Town. Very fine image.