The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-25
LIFE AND CAREER OF RAPHAEL
sEMMEs.

f8REE nfuU NJ Last mGfunG OF doe
Wheeler Auxiliary, Birmingham.
Bv Miss vailie Young White.
Admiral Raphael Semmes was born
In Maryland, 100 years ago. His pa
rents were Catholics. Semmes was
early and long connected with the
navy. as in 1895. President John
Quincy Adams appointed him q mid
shipman In the navy. While pursuing
his naval studies, he read law and was
admitted to the bar. though not with
the intention of giving up the navy.
In 1912 he moved with his family to
Mobile, Ala,
He served with gallantry in the
Mexican war. but his best service was
in the civil war.
No sooner did be hear that Alabama
had seeded from the Union. than he
resigned his commission in the United
States Navy. and offered his services
to the Confederate government. Pres
ident Davis sent him at once to the
North to buy materials and engage
skillful mechanics to make war sup.
plies. When he had done this. he re-
turned to the South apd was made cap
! tain OF the "Sumptef," the first war
vessel to throw the Confederate flag to
| the breeze.
The Sumpter was poor vessel for
| lighting, but under its brave and dar-
| ing captain and fearless crew. II did a
great deal OF damage. There WAS no
place too full of danger. no underta-
king too great. for the Sumpters cap
tain and crew. In the Gulf OF Mexico.
on the Atlantic Ocean. even to within
few hours. run of New York, they
| went, destroying ships laden with mer-
chandise and food supplies.
This angered the Federal Govern
ment, and every effort was made to
capture the Sumpter.
l a Ffxtx~ -
| themselves neutral: that Is helping
neither the North nor the South. When
| Captain Semmes outwitted them by
selling hts vessel. and then going to
| England, bought a real war vessel
which at first was known as the $780,"
afterwards as the Alabama.
This noble vessel became the terror
of the seas. It was launched in Sep
TENDER, 1862. and from that time until
June, 1864. II waged fearful war
| fare on the commerce of the United
States. going even as far as the indian
Ocean.
/ Though Captain semmes did all .the
damage he could. to the property os
| the United States. he was kind and
] humane 10 the men. engaged to light
| him. He spared their lives wheneyer
possible, and put them on transports.
to be carried to places of safety.
June 10, 1854, the Alabama gave bat
4 tie to the Kearsarge, at Cherbourg,
France. The shells used by the Ala
ba.ma had become damaged and would
not explode This gave the ADVANTAGE
| to the Kearsarge and the Alabama
4 was sunk. Her gallant crew was rec
-cued by the English yacht. the Grey
hound, owned by an English gentle-
man. who was watching the battle. and
were carried to England. and theRca
back to the Confederate States. and
! Captain Semmes was made Admiral Is
| q reward for his great services.
The losses to the Federal govern
ment through the work Of Captain
Semmes. and iCaptpfn Waddeli. Of the
Shenandoah. amounted to s15, 000V0o.4
| After the surrender. Admiral Semmes
was arrested by the Federal author
| tiles and imprisoned for four months.
| then being released, he returned to
Mobile. near which place he died. Au-
gust, 1877.
He wrote several books on war and
| naval subjects: among these were
"Afoat and Ashore; Memoirs of
Service Afoat," and Campaign or
General Scott in the Valley Of Mex
ico.'
|