There was a very interesting article in the August 11th edition of the UK paper The Guardian about a US scholar who has tracked down the grave of a long-lost British merchantman who supported the South during the American Civil War.

According to the article, Charles Kuhn Prioleau purchased the CSS Alabama and two other privateers through agents, to help protect his interest in the cotton trade, which was threatened by the US blockade of Southern ports.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/10/grave-of-confederate-backer-found

I am fascinated by the role that global trade played in warfare, even back then.