The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-05
EXPLOITS ON THE SEAS.
CAPT. sEMMEs' RECORD IN THE
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
How the Daring Captain Escaped
From New Orleans With the sum
ter-His Destructive Work in and
Around the West Indies-OmciaI
Records soon 10 he Published.


From the Baltimore sun.
Washington, June Appropriation Of
the records OF the union and confederate
navies in the late war is progressing as
rapidly as the magnitude and Importance
of the work will permit. and within two
weeks the second volume of the series will
be ready for distribution. Commander
Rush, who has in charge the publications.
estimates that before all the records are
compiled that al least twenty-four volumes
of nearly one thousand pages each will
have been printed, and with the pictures
OF the important vessels taking part on
both sides II is possible that there may be
even a greater number OF publications. A
government artist is now making sketches
Of every vessel in both navies OF which
the department has drawings, and these
are TO be reproduced in the records. The
famous ships. such as the -Kearsarge and
Alabama, the Sumter and others of like
fame, will be accurately pictured and many
of the stirring blockade escapes, as well
as the fight in Hampton Roads, are all to
receive attention in the volumes The first
volume, issued a few months ago, con-
tanned the entire correspondence relating
to the Trent affair and the wonderful es-
cape Of the Sumter from the Mississippi
river. under command of Capt Semmes,
who was the first officer to hoist the con-
federate colors on the high seas from a
warship The Trent affair is recounted in
the official reports made by the captain of
the San Jacinto and the officers boarding
the Trent and seizing the confederate COM
missioners. Capt. Semmes's diary and re-
ports to the Confederate Secretary OF the
Navy Mallory tell OF the operations of
the Sumter until her final retirement from
the service, just nine months after her es-
cape from New Orleans. during which time
she was commanded by Semmes, who was
transferred to the famous Alabama
The history OF the operations of the
cruiser Alabama begins with an order
from S. r. Mallory, secretary of the con-
federate navy, directing Commander
Semmes to assume charge Of the Sumter
at New Orleans on April 20, and detainine
number of officers to serve with HIM
On taking charge Of the ship Semmes az
once set to work to prepare her to run
the gauntlet of three United States war
ships stationed south of the city and on
June % he wrote that he had succeeded
in making the Head Of the Passes where
he found anchored the Brooklyn and Pow.
haitian, and occasionally a third vessel OF
smaller size was seen cruising near by
His report to Mallory here says that the
two larger vessels lay almost constantly
at their anchorage within a few hundred
yards of the bar which they were as
siduously guarding. Semfhes, it seems, ives
willing to take the chances of running
the bar at night, but pilot dissuaded
him unless there be a moon, as all the
buoys and marks TO the channel
had been removed and there was
no guide other than the ripple of the
breakers. I'm the meantime" says
Semmes. Opportunities VIII doubtless oc-
cur to enable me- with the exercise of
patience and vigilance. to gain the high
seas, as changes win occur in the bloc,
aking vessels from time to time, and they
will probably be tempted now and then
upon sight of a sail to chase off,.
On the day after making this report
Semmes dropped stin. further down to-
| ward the Gulf and caused both the lights
| on the entrances OF the Pass a rOiltre AMI
South Pass to be destroyed, so that the
enemy would have no facilities afforded
lJhim Of promptly regaining his station In
THE event of his having "chased off, OF
sought an "offing" for the safety of his
| vessel during bad weather. On June 30
/ Semmes wrote that he was still north OF
| the Passes and was waiting for bad
weather to set in so that the blockadins
| vessels would have nothing to "hold on
to" and would be obliged to make an
oinng. AT present the worse feature Of
the blockade" he says. ut that the Brook.
| lyn mas the speed OF me- so that eyon
should I run the bar l could not hone
TO escape her close watch of the bar, a.
anchor near to, both Night and day IL
! will be exceedingly difhcult I to do 1
should be quite willing to try speed with
eho wv hdldH II L COuld nope to run the
gauntlet OF her guns without being Grip
led, but unfortunately. with all the buoys
and other marks removed, this is a perfect
| ~ blind bar except by daylight In the
meantime l am drilling my crew to
| proper use of the guns and small arms"
The next heard of Capt. Semmes he
had passed out the river, escaped the two
United States vessels and had reached
! CUBA with seven prizes of war all of this
having been accomplished before July G.
| Inc Brooklyn attempted to chase him
put soon gave IL up, and the Sumter
sailed away without having fired a shot
During the summer he cruised around Gu
ba and the northen part of South Amer
/ lea, making several captures and DESTROY
| ing numbers of vessels. 1t was not until
| the following December, however, that
| Semmes made his official report of his
escape from the Mississippi river, which
was one of the most thrilling incidents
| of the Sumter's career.
Semmes learned late one evening that
| the Powhatan had sailed away evidently
| in pursuit of two ships. Yand Immediately
| began preparations for an attempt 10 clear
| the Passes before her return. His de-
| scription of il is as follows:.
ION receipt of the intelligence ordered
| steam to be got up, and half an hour af-
terward / was steaming down to the
head of the Passes, where l anchored at
| half past TO- I then sent an officer ashore
| the night, but there was no pilot to be
had and learned the next day that the
| Powhatan had returned to her station
| after an absence of only a few hours.
| On the next morning / could plainly re-
connoiter the blockading vessels at both
passes. To my establishment l learned
| that the two lighthouses had been burn
ed. OF course, this could only be for the
convenience of the enemy, and there
| fore, ordered them again extingushed,
1 remaining at my anchorage at the
Passes for nine days, occasionally shift
| ing my anchorage, patiently watching the
| enemy and seeking an opportunity to
escape. But this time was by no means
lost, as 1 needed all of it for drilling the
| crew.
1.-THE men were exercised al the guns day
| and night, and as the nights grew dark for
the want of the moon I caused guard or
scoutboats to be sent out. one in each Of the
passes, to prevent being surprised by the
boats of the enemy. Finally. on Sunday
morning, the Goth Of June, It having been
reported to me that the Brooklyn was alb
sent from her station. caused steam to be
generated, and. getting under Roadway,
ran down toward the pass. AS we ap-