Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-21
ADMIRAL SEMMES ON POLLARD.

tried his hand as an editor in the Mobile
Gazette, new paper, since deceased
We had not the pleasure of seeing the
paper, but for an editorial taken from it
which friend has sent us, we are quite
sure that the Admiral would have sue
ceeded as an editor. His theme is
" Pollard's Lost Cause" He goes into
the book with will, and puts it in very
unenviable light. Among other things
he says
almost every page of the volume we
are reviewing is defaced by similar mis-
statements of facts, and we fear, in some
instances, malignant attacks upon hon
orable men. And in other instances,
men who have deserved criticism and
condemnation, have been defended with
the zeal of partisan. In short, Mr..
Pollard, throughout his book, writes as if
he we're still in Richmond, and belonged
to the Opposition for he seems to make
it point to oppose everybody and
everything that other men praise, and to
praise all that other men condemn. This
would seem to be so natural to him, tha,
he is probably unconscious of the defect.
'Of naval affairs he shows himself ls-
mentally ignorant He does not know
the difference between 'privateer' and
a ship of war, or if he knows the diff
ference, he has falsifed history in the
account given of the Alabama and her
consort In speaking of this vessel, he
says: The Alabama, the most formid-
able of the Confederate privateers, or
cruisers, had been built at Birkenhead,
England, etc. Surely Mr. Pollard must
have known that the Alabama was built
under contract with the Confederate
government, that she was commissioned
by that government as a ship of war, aud
that private parties had nothing whatever
to do with her. And yet, in grave his
tory of the war, he calls it privateer,
in imitation of the newspaper slang of
the day. He writes the account of the
engagement between this ship and the
Kearsage, off Cherbourg, under the fol-
lowing head, which looks as if he had
copied it from the New York Herald
Sinking of The Confederate Privateer
Alabama One more falsehood, and we
will forbear to trouble our readers further
with this trashy book.
I'm his account of the evacuation of the
lines around Richmond, by Gen. Lee, he
thus speaks of the naval part of the ope-
ration. But new horror was to ap-
near upon the scene, and take possession
of the community. To the rear guard of
the Confederate force, on the north side Of
James river, under Gen. Ewell, had been
assigned the duty of blowing up the iron.
clad vessels, in the James, and destroying
the bridges across that river. The Rich
mond, Virginia, and an iron ram were
blown to the winds etc. The perver-
sion of the truth here looks little like
design. Even Mr.. Pollard, with all his
ignorance Of naval affairs, must have
known that there was an Admiral in
command of this fleet, with some six or
seven hundred men uuder him, and that
Gen. Ewell Rad no more authority over
it than he (Pollard) had.
"A man who sits himself down to write
a history, should krow that armies and
navies are separate and distinct, and
that General does not blow up an Ad-
mirars iron-clads, any more than an
Admiral blows up General forts. Even
Gen. Lee was incompetent to give an
order 10 the Admiral Of the James river
fleet, unless he had been especially en-
powered so 10 do by the Executive Gov
ernment The following is the order
under which that feet was destroyed,
which Mr.. Pollard might easily have
learned. if he had been intent upon any
thing but getting up sensation book,
for a gullible market, with the utmost
possible dispatch, that he might make
an honest penny, in advance Of the
true historian:
CoNrEpERkTK STATES OF AysRicA,o
I'd April, 1855.
Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes, Commanding
James River Squadron:
STR: Gen. Lee advises the Government
to withdraw from this city, and the Off
GERS will leave this evening, accordingly.
presume that Gen. Lee has advised you
Of this, and Of his movements, and made
suggestions as to the disposition to be
made Of your squadron. he withdraws
upon his lines, towards Danville, this
night and unless otherwise directed by
Gen. Lee, upon you is devolved the
duty Of destroying your ships, this night,
and with all forces under your command,
Joining Gen. Lee. Confer with him, if
practicable, before destroying them. Let
your people be yationed, as far as posi-
lie, for the march, and armed and equip
ped for duty in the field.
Very respectfully, yeur obt servt,
s r. MALLORY,
Secretary Of the Navy.
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