Re the Alabama salvage... there was a question about why the US controlls the salvage rights, Confederate warships were returned to the ownership of the Federal navey, so their wrecks are also US navy vessels, one nation cannot salvage the remains of another's navy vessels - so when a pal of mine tried to sell the Alabama's bell, the case when up to the US sup ct. and he lost... the bell is now in a Navy museum. There was some salvage done by a US firm under an agreement with the navy and aided by the French navy to rase one of her guns as well as some other things, tea service from the Captain's cabin etc...
Cheers Larry