Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-03
ADMIRAL RAPHAEL sEMKEs

ADMIRAL RAPHAEL SEMkkS
Was born in Charles county, Nd,
September 81, 1912; entered the
United States navy as midshipman
in 1895; became lieutenant in 1887
and commander in 1855. During
his thirty-fve years. service in the
United States navy he visited nearly
every part Of the globe, and ac-
quired by study and practice a
knowledge of the languages OF
nearly all civilized nations. While
waiting orders" ashore he studied
law and was admitted to the bar at
Cumberland, Nd.
During the Mexican war he COM
manded the United States man-of-
war SOmers, which, while in pur-
suit of a supposed blockade-runner,
off Vera Cruz, was capsized in a
norther, and a large number Of
officers and men were lost. After
the loss of his ship, at the request
of Major General Worth, he served
on that distinguished officers staff
as aid-de-camp throughout the
campaigns which terminated with
the capture Of the City of Mexico.
At the commencement Of the
civil war he was on duty in Wash
ington City. He resigned his COM
mission as commander, and was i'm
mediately commissioned as captain
in the Confederate States navy. In
command Of the Confederate States
ship Sumter he ran the blockade at
New Orleans in 1861, and making
a number of captures spread con-
sternation among the Federal COM
mercial aud naval marine. Being
blockaded in a port of the Mediter-
ranean by United States vessels Of
war, he sold the Sumter and at once
went to England and had built the
far-famed Alabama, in command Of.
which he put to sea in August, 1862.
In January, 1868, he drew off the
United States man-of-war Hatteras
from the squadron, near Galveston,
and after a short engagement sunk
her, saving every soul on board be-
fore she went down. After making
a large number Of captures Of Fed
eral merchant ships in nearly every
portion Of the sea, and almost driv-
ing the United States flag from the
ocean, after a long voyage from the
Indian ocean and badly needing
repairs, he encountered the United
States ship Kearsage, expressly and
freshly fitted out for the purpose,
and was sunk by her in an engage
ment off Oherburg June 10, 1854,
he and many Of his crew beng
saved by the English yacht Deer
hound.
Commissioned as On admiral in
the Confederate navy he subse-
quently took command Of the james
river fleet Of gunboatS and IRON
clads, which on the fall of Rich
mond were destroyed by him to
prevent their falling into the hands
of the Federals. He was then COM
missioned as a ~brigadier general in
the Confederate army, and in com
mand of the seamen and marines OF
the fleet and some artillery, he
participated in the events in Vir-
GINA which terminated by the eur.
render of Lee. Since the war he
has quietly supported himself and
family by the practice of the law.
for which he had so fortunately
qualified himself during his leisure
years ashore while still in the
United States navy.
In 1851 he published his first
work, " Service Aloat aud Ashore
during the Mexican War;" which
was eagerly expected and rapidly
sold, the author being a naval off,
Ger, serving in an important posi-.
ton in the army, in which at Chat
time there was great disSensior
among leading officers and the
commander-in-chief General Scott
In 1869 his memoirs of Ser
vice Aaoat during the War between
the States.n which embraced the