text: During this conflict, a ship commanded by Raphael Semmes was attacked by the Kearsarge off the coast of Cherbourg.
full_question: During this conflict, a ship commanded by Raphael Semmes was attacked by the Kearsarge off the coast of Cherbourg. One side in this conflict became the first to sink a warship with a submarine when it used the H.L. Hunley. Because most of one side's ships were illegally built in London, the victor of this conflict received damages from the British government in the Alabama claims. Many "blockade runners" were built during this conflict after the implementation of the "Anaconda Plan" restricted one side's lucrative cotton exports. For 10 points, name this conflict that saw the first battle between ironclads, the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack. 
first_sentence: During this conflict, a ship commanded by Raphael Semmes was attacked by the Kearsarge off the coast of Cherbourg.
raw_answer: the American Civil War