The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-07
BILL ARP'S LETTER

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learn the true history OF our Civil War,
it's causes and results, l would take that
Of Gregg for the land and Semmes for
the seas. In former letter l was
pleased to give the first my hearty conn
mendation and now since / have just
concluded ( the perusal of Service
the author far exceeded my expecta-
Afoat," by Admiral Semmes | must say
tions in craftsmanship and style and
attractive narrative of the wonderful
work of the Sumter and Alabama as
Confederate cruisers ON the high seas.
The truth is that their work OF capture
and destruction was so remote from us
and so few witnesses to it with no tele-
graph, no MAIL no press dispatches that
our people almost forgot where they
were or what they were doing. Only at
long intervals did any news OF them
come to Ills and even that news came
from the North and was partially Smoth-
cred and always SmirChed Win mfulg-
nifty.
The admiral was a scholar, lawyer,
an editor and profound statesman. bus
style is clear and classic and his history
shows him to have been student of the
science of government and the forna-
ton of our national compact. His ut
terances are fearless and convincing and
his narrative reads like a romance. Inns
work contains no biographical sketch OF
the man and l had to turn to Apple
toms American biography to tiud ouC
who ne was and what he was doing
before the war. Appleton is always just
to Southern men, whether tney be
statesmen or heroes. In most Of the
Northern cyclopedias OF biography you
will find no mention OF Gordon, Colquitt,
Barlow, Pat Clebern or of scores Of nell
whom our people delight to honor, but
lengthy sketches of every small Republi-
can member Of Congress and the pedi-
gree OF every race horse that ever be-
came famous. Appleton has left out the
horses and put III all OF our famous
men.
Appleton tells us that Raphael
Sen4lneS was born III Maryland in 1919;
was sent 10 the naval academy III 1926;
commissioned Il lieutenant in 1852;
studied law TWO years anQythen returned
to sea service aud cruised around the
world When the war with Mexico
was declared lie was made nag Heulen-
ant OF the admiral snip ana pIaCed IN
charge OF the naval batteries III the
siege OF Vera Cruz-the aUluIral leaning
upon HAN there Just as Dewey leaned
upon Ion Brumby at MAMMA. When
secession came he promptly resigned MS
commission as COmnlanuant OF the light
house bureau ana tenuered his services
TO thG ConIederacy. Inc Sumter, theh
In port at New Orleans, was the only
vessel at all suitable for mis- purpose. 1t
required months to put her IN War-hkO
condition, but as he says Il liked her
oil t1n0D F44yr lI1ana ora
easy aud graceful and she had a saucy
air about her chat seemed to be longing
for a fight" What a wonderful career
was in store for that old patched up
vessel Semmes soon organized her Off
GERS and crew and our own John Nc
Intosh Kell was his flag lieutenant. The
admiral always mentions him with af-
lection and high regard-'my ever
trusted friend my brave, patriotic and
reliable first lieutenant" always ready,
always true" And he still lives an orna-
ment to Georgia and the S0uth-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
within six months and done millions OF
dollars damage to Northern commerce
and paralyzeu aher trade. Six OF their
best ships of war were constantly in
pursuit of her. Her officers and crew
were proclaimed as pirates and large
rewards offered for them.
All that the Sumter ever cost the Con-
federacy 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 inferred not far from the Ala
bama. Uncle Sam got no damages from
Johnny Bull for what the Sumter did,
for she was not built in England, as
was the Alabama, but her victims got
pay from the nations treasury for all
their losses. England had to pay 49,,
000,000 for allowing the Alabama 10
be built and armored in her port, ana
the Sumter destroyed as much more. AL
this done by one resolute, patriotic capa-
BILE man and his little crew of a dozen
officers and a hundred men.
The Alabama was built in England
especially for Semmes. Captain Low,
of Savannah. superintendent her con-
struction and equipment. Semmes could
get only four of his old officers, for they
became scattered during the delay ana
joined other cruisers. But Lieutenant
Kell was at his side ready for service
and so was Lieutenant Armstrong, an
other Georgian. | was Illuminating about
this venerable man, descendant of the
grand old Mcintosh family of Georgia,
the Chevalier Bayard of the revolution.
Is it possible that our State will neg
lect him in his old age? If there is
man in Georgia or the South who de-
serves an ample pension and a comfor-
table home he is the man. Thousands
of dollars are contributed to Northern
heroes who commanded negro regiments
during the war and who melted our
slaves to arson and raI.ne and murder,
but our own noble heroes are almost for.
gotten. Oh the shame of it! Here is a
man who was the adn.irars right bower
the bravest of the brave-foremost in
all these naval engagements and in the
capture and destruction Of eighty-e eight
vessels and of 25,0O0,0 in property and
his friends have almost to beg for him
a bare support. Oh, the shame Of it.
Friends, young men Of the South, get
these books and peruSe them slowly,
carefully and they will make fast your
Southern patriotism and fill your bos0ms