Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-01
From the Richmond Dispatch.

Ehe Alabama.
The Yankee Government have sent whole feet of
ships-ofwar after the Alabama. This scourge of their
commerce has stirred the soul of the entire Yankee
ton to its lowest Depths and that they low enough
and deep enough the present has fully disclosed
That nation of prvateers speak of Capt Semmes
of the Confederate Navy, except pirate, and
pirate they intend to treat him if be falls into
their hands. We shall not be surprised if they swung
him at the yardarm he is captured Or at all
events in very short period thereafter 1t is useless
for to insist that prvateering is Yankee invention
and that if Capt Semmes has sinned in any way, it s
in violating the Yankee patent. 1t is useless to
mind them that in the whole of the last with Eng.
land their privaeers swarmed every sea, and that
the ink is scarcely dry the State paper 10 which their
Government refused emphatcaly the request of the
European Powers that the United States would give
the right of prvateerng. 1t is useless to urge that
Capt. Semmes is E;ular commissioned officer OF the
Confederate Navy, and not pirate. For the very
that he is officer and gentleman they would
like to hang him. These and all other reasons would
be unavaipg to Capt. Semmes from his threaten
cd fate if he fell into Yankee hands. But there are
certain other considerations which may have more
weight and which we would briefly point out beforehand
to those who hrsting for the blood of of their
gallant officers and heightened gentleman in the naval
service of any country.
In the first place. Mrs Glasss rule must be observed
for cooking turbat-frst catch your fish. The Yankee
Doodes have first to catch Captain Semmes We do
not despse them They great soldiers,
but sailors have nothing to say to their dspar-
element
Captain Semmes is the master of the best their
navy He has handled the two single ships which have
been successfully under bis command in manner which
throws into the shade the exploits of Gen Jones'
He has made the unsafe for Yankee commerce.
and has hitherto baed the best laid and most power
fol organizations for his capture 1t is possible he may
be caught at last for vessel with hundred after
her would to have but little chance of escape
And yet not sure that he will be caught. He
will make a bonfire yet of many Yankee merchant
man before that day comes. AS to the menof- war
when be cannot fight them he will run, and when he
cannot run he will fight. And such fight as he will
make If he is only fortunate to meet one of them
at time, there will be ship less in the Yankee
navy. But we trust be may be apprised Of the odds
coming against him, and make his way to neutral
port ready to dart out again at the first opportunity
and illuminate the sea with hundred more blazing
Yankee wrecks.
Even supposing the adventurous Captain to be
caught there is still another argument to him from
the halter in the certainty of retaliation hundred fold
for his fate The Yankees need not expect that any
wrong done Capt. Semmes will be passed by the
Confederate Government. AS have said before, he
is regularly commissioned officer of the Government
acting under its authority and if he should be hung
hundred Yankee officers would be swung in retaliation
We are making prisoners of the enemy's officers in
every battle and the fortunes of may again throw
large numbers in hands. So let not the Yankees
exult prematurely over the fate of Captain Semmes
whom they have got to catch before they hang and
whom, IT they hang will be accompanied to the shades
BY as many Yankee officers with broken necks, the
late OF battles throws into our hands.