The CSS Rappahannock was a Confederate States Navy warship during the American Civil War. Originally a British merchant ship named the Victor, it was purchased by the Confederacy and converted into a commerce raider. The ship was armed with six guns and had a crew of about 200 men. The CSS Rappahannock operated in the Pacific Ocean, disrupting Union shipping and capturing several vessels. However, its activities caused diplomatic tensions between the United States and Britain due to its use of British ports for repairs and resupply. The Union government protested against the ship's presence in British waters, arguing that it violated international neutrality laws. Eventually, the CSS Rappahannock was seized by the British authorities in 1863 and sold to a Union sympathizer. The ship was later used by the British Royal Navy as a transport and renamed the Talisman. The CSS Rappahannock's career as a Confederate commerce raider was short-lived but significant in its impact on international relations during the Civil War.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.