The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-10

If could choose only two books t,
leave as legacy for my children I,
learn the true history Of our civil war
its causes and results, 1 would tax,
that OF Gregg for the land and Scmme
for the seas. In former letter | wa:
pleased to give the first my heart,
commentator and nov Since hay,
just concluded the peruSal Of '.Servic,
Afoat, by Admiral Scmmcs. mus,
say the author far exceeded my TX
pectation in statcsnausl.p aud Styl.
: and attractive narrative of the won
derful work Of the Sumter aud Alaba
ma as Confederate cruisers on tho
high seas. The truth is that thcil
work OF capture and destruction was
SO remote from US aud SO few witness
cs to it with no telegraph, 10 mail,
no press dispatches that our people
almost forgot where they were or what
t''"y were doing. Only at long inter
,ais did any news Of them come to us
and even tina. news came from the
North and was partially smothcred
and always smirchcd with maligni-
ty.
The admiral was scholar, lawyer,
an editor aad profound states man.
His style is clear and classic and his
history shows him to have b.c::; sta
dent OF the science OF government ana
the formation OF our national compact
Ills uttcranccs are fearless and con
vinclng and his narrative reads like a
romance This work contains no bio
graphical sketch Of the man aud | had
to turn to Appleton's American bios
graphy to find out who he was and
what he was doing before the war.
Appleton is always just to Southern
mrn, whether they be statesmen or
heroes. In most Of the Northern cy-
clopcdias of biography you will find
no mention of Gordon, Colquitt, Bar
tow, Pat Clebern or Of scores of men
whom our people delight to honor, but
lengthy sketches of every small Re
publican member Of Congress and the
pedigree of every race horse that ever
became famous. Appleton has left
out the horses and put in all of our
famous men.
Appleton tells us that Raphael
Semmes was born in Maryland in 1909,
was sent to the naval academy in 1926.
commissioned lieutenant in 1892,
studied law two years and then re-
turned to sea service and cruised
around tie world. When the war
with Mexico was declared he was made
flag lieutenant Of the admiral's ship
and placed in charge Of the naval bs.-
teries in che eiege ee Vera Czuz-the
admiral leaning upon him there just
as Dewey leaned upon Tom Brumby
at Manila. When secession came he
promptly resigned his commission as
commandaut Of the lighthouse bureau
and rendered his services to the Con-
federacy. The Sumter, then in port
at New Orleans, was the only vessel
at ell suitable for hisopurpose. It re-
quired months to put her in warlike
condition, but as he says II liked her
general appearance. Her lines were
easy and graceful and she had sauoy
air about her that seemed to be long
ing for a fight" What wonderful
career was in store for that old patch
ed up vessel. Semmes soon organized
her officers and crew and our own John
Mcintosh Kell was his flag lieutenant.
The admiral always mentions him
with affection and high regard-''my
ever trusted FRIEND" "my brave, pa
triotic and reliable first lieutenant"
always ready, always true" And
he still lives an ornamentAto Georgia
aud the South-the last Of the old
Romans. What memories he must
have of those trying scenes of which
he was part. Just think Of it. The
Sumter captured seventeen ships with
In Six months and done millions Of
dollars damage to Northern commerce
and paralyzed her trade. Six Of their |
best ships of war were constantly in
pursuit of her Her officers and Grew |
were proclaimed as pirates aud large
rewards offered for them.
All that the Sumter ever cost the |
Confederacy was $4,000, which was |
much less than the smallest of her !
prizes. But at last she wore out and
had to be sold. An Englishman
patched her up again and named her
Gibraltar. She was finally lost in the
North sea and her bones lie entered !
ncs ssaT from the Alabama. Uncle |
Sam got no damages from Johnny Bull |!
for what tho Snmter did Por ebo,o,