Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02
SEMMES'S ESCAPE.
A REMIEsoKNcE OF TIE GREAT CIVIL
WAR.
The Beginning Of the Brilliant Career Of
the Great Confederate Pri-
Waterman.
NEW York CommercIal-Advsrtl,er.l

AHNh aSAAFt hhbi I1sl@s tilt lupfA-
mediate years having been spent in ma
val studies in Norfolk. In 1887 he was
promoted to lieutenant in 1856 he re-
ceived the commission Of COM
msnder, and upon the secession
Of Alabama, his adopted State Che
was a native OF Marylsnd), he resigned
his commission and reported for
duty TO MIR. Davis at Montgomery. He
was the recipient Of the first naval COM
mission issued by the Confederacy. He
had been appointed to the command of
the Sumter, and it was not without
considerable trouble that the necessary
parchment was completed The form
Was written out by Semmes and carefully
transcribed by clerk writing hand
some hand. There was no seal or en-
grayer available, but Semmes, who
was impatient to get aaoat, under
took the tack. calling to his aid young
man Of his acquaintance. A email block
Of lockwood Was obtained, and some type
from the Office OF the Montgomery Id
rertiser, and, provided with sharp pen
knives, the two set 10 work. A number
Of knives were expended and fingers suf-
fered before the seal was completed, but
it was finally pronounced finished, and,
when applied to the wafer, made a good,
even artistic, Impression. Armed with
this document, Semmes proceeded to
make ready the first cruiser and COM
merce-detroyer of the Confederacy.
The screw steamer Habana had been
purchased by orders Of MIR. Mallory, the
Secretary OF the Navy, and her name
changed 10 the Sumter, in honor Of the
victory gained over the fort bearing that
name IN Charleston harbor. She was
437 tons register. barkentpe rugged, her
speed about ten knots per hour, aud was
slow under sail alone Gu account of drag
ging her propeller. She could stow
eight days coal in her bunkers, carried
an 8-inch shell-gun piyoted amid
ships, and four 32-pounders in broad
side. On juno 3, 1861, she was
placed in commission At New Orleans,
Semmes hosting with his own hands the
new-b born banner of the Confederaey the
Stars and Bars, which had been made and
presented TO him by the ladies OF the
Crescent City. His safe under the charge
Of a paymaster, contsined the sum Of
$40, 600. 1t was all that he had made
requisition for. "This will suffice" he
said, "until 1 have the opportunity of
replenishing my military chest from the
enemy
Sunday, June Both, davned bright and
beautiful, and preparations for the usual
| Sunday muster and Inspection were
going on when a fisherman who had
come up from the mouth Of the passes
came under the stern reporting that the
BROOKLYN bad steamed off shore in chase
Of sail and was no longer in sight.
/ The Powhatan was guarding the chan
mel leading through Southwest Pass, but
was too slow to raise the slightest appre-
hension in the minds of those who con-
trolled the fate and fortunes Of the Sum-
/ ter. Steam was at once ordered, boats
hoisted up, booms swung alongside, the
capstan manned, and in few moments
the priyateer Was moving at rapid pace
down tho pass.
Over the low marshes TO the westward
the tall spars of tho Brooklyn we're re-
vealed and Semmes summoned his Off
GERS to the quarter deck for n consulta-
ton, But few month"; before some OF
them had been attached to the frigate
and were thoroughly posted in regard TO
that vessels speed. eve have no pros
pect, sir. responded lieutenant TO an
| inquiry from Semmes. "There Is no
chance of our escaping from that ship ;
she is good for fourteen knots an hour. "
But the commander Of the Sumter had
made up his mind to keep on. He had
a four-knot current in bis favor, and that
was powerful ally under the circum-
stances. Semmes had chafed and
fumed during his enforced detention at
/ the head of the passes, where pestllen-
| tial vapors and myriads of mosquitoes
had torely tried the health and patience
of all on board.
As the Sumter cleared the bar the
Brooklyn appeared about four miles
astern, leaving the priyateer trifie be-
yond the range OF her heaviest guns
/ From her emoke-stacks poured volumes
OF black smoke, with every appearance
of life and activity along the broad eI-
panse of her spar-deck. The frigate was
a little on the weather.quarter of the
I Sumter, with sails set and brsced up
sharp on the starboard tack. The prl-
vsteer had the advantage in living closer
to the wind, having more fore and aft
sails, stayssils, trysails. and a large
spsnker The log was hove under the
supervision Of Semmes himself, but
could only be made to register nine and
a half knots. This vas far from satisfac-
| tory, but the engineer stated that tho
boilers were foaming, which intehered
materially with the speed of the ship.
On came the frigate, majestic III APP
pearance, with broad flaring bows,
| browning guns towering spars, and the
Stars and Stripes floating out from under
the lee OF her huge spsnker. She was
evidently gaining, and the group OF
officers on the Sumter's quarter-deck
we're very quiet and grave. Ia low
tone Semmes ordered the paymaster to
have his public chest and papers ready
to throw overheard if necessary. At the
same time the chief engineer reported
that the foaming of his boilers bad
ceased, while the machinery was work
ing splendidly. The propeller revolved
with additional rapidity. tho frigate
dropped slowly astern and into the
wake Of the slippery Sumter, compelling
the Brooklyn to furl sll sails.
The frigate had been under press oil
canvas from royals to courses, when, as
if 10y magic. and with the precision OF
clock-work, sheets aud halyards were let
fy together. The immense area OF
snow-white canvas collapsed and disap
peared, clouds OF men manned tue rig
cling, clustered on the yards, and III less
than four minutes all was made snug
aloft.
Semmes and his companions watched
the manuuyre in silence, their sunburni
features glowing with emotions Of pride
they could not repress. They had been
too long associated with the old navy to
at once stiie al sentiments and associa'
tons growing out of long years of ser
vice.
Scarcely had daylight dswned that
eventful Sunday when the sharp eyes oil
a topman on board the Brooklyn re-
ported sail in the oiling. The officer
of the deck soon had his glass directed
unon the newcomer. and as her move