The painting commemorates the Battle of Cherbourg of June 19, 1864, a naval engagement of the American Civil War between the Union cruiser USS Kearsarge and the Confederate raider CSS Alabama.

[1] Within one month of this battle, Manet had already completed this painting and got it on display in the print shop of Alfred Cadart in Paris.

Although Manet himself was not present at the battle, he began to paint the event based on newspaper descriptions shortly afterwards.

Just 26 days later, he was able to exhibit the work in Alfred Cadart's art gallery on Rue de Richelieu in Paris.

On the right is probably the Deerhound, a private British yacht which rescued members of the Conferedate crew and prevented their capture.