Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-01

x
river below New Orleans the first cruis-
err commissioned by the Confederate
States of America. the Sumter. On TINS
date her commander. Raphael Semmes'
whose name was to spell ruin to many
2 northern ship owner, received his SAIL
ing orders from his government.
The ship was ready for sea, with guns
shotted and coal bunkers full, and only
awaited an opportunity to slip past the
1nion blockading fleet and begin her ca
reer of destruction-for her sole func-
ton was to be e--at of commerce de-
stroyer.
Formerly a passenger steamer, the
Ehbana, of 437 tons and 1874 feet long,
he Sumter was not suited to lighting
he heavier ships of the federal navy.
Seither was she fast enough to DEFY
capture II chased for her best speed
vas barely nine knots. Her armament
was light, consisting of an eight-inch
;hell gun on a pivot alnidships and four
light 32-pounders in broadside.
The hopes of the Confederates for this
ship were based on her chances OF rail-
ng in with richly-laden merchant YES
els only This result depended on the
kill of her commander. and for the
work in hand a better man could not
nave been chosen. Cool and daring, ne
vas an experienced naval officer.
Born in Maryland in 1SO9-and there
fore So, or Just Lincolns age-Comman-
der Semmes had been appointed a MID
shipman in the navy in 1870 by Presl-
lent John Quincy Adams. After his
irst long voyage he was admitted to the
bar In Norfolk. for he was diligent
reader of law, and was also student
If literature.
Preferring the quarterback to the court
room, he continued in the navy. and
served with distinction in the Mexican
war.
On resigning from the navy in Janu-
airy. 1861 he held the rank of command
err His first service for the confeder-
acy was buying war materials In the
north. That flnished, he was ordered
to New Orleans in April to fit out the
Sumter. s
WORKING UNDER DIFFICULTIES
No better account of the fitting out
of the Sumter can be found than that
written by Commander Semmes himself
in his autobiography.
He thus described New Orleans as ne
found it:
"a great change was apparent in New
Orleans since last visited it. The lev
ee in front of the city was no longer
a great mart of commerce, piled with
cotton bales, and supplies going back TO
the planter; densely packed with steam
ers and thronged with busy multi
tude. The long lines of shipping above
the city had been greatly thinned. and
a general air of desolation hung over
the river front. 1t seemed as though a
pe7tilence brooded over the doomed city,
and that its Inhabitants had fled before
the fell destroyer.
"The Sumter lay on the opposite side
of the river, at Alg;ers, and ! crossed
over every, morning to superintend her
refitment / was sometimes detained
at the ferry house, waiting for the fer
ry-boat, and on these occasions, casting
my eyes I'D and down the late busy riv-
er. IL was not unfrequent to see it with
out so much as a skiff> in motion on its
bosom.
II now took my ship actively in hand
and set gangs of mechanics at work to
remove her upper cabins, and other top
hamper preparatory to making the neces-
s9ry alterations.
"These latter were considerable, and |
soon found that l had a tedious job on
my hands. 1t was no longer the case. as
it had been in former years when 1 had
had occasion TO fit out ship, that |
could go into navy yard, with we'll
provided workshops, and skilled workmen
ready with all the requisite materials at
hand to execute my orders.
Everything had TO be improvised, from
the manufacture of a water tank, to the
kids and cans of the berth-deck messes,
and from a gun carriage to a friction
primer had not only to DEVISE all the
alterations. but to make plans and draw
lngs of them. before they could be COM
pretended. aa
CHANGES ON THE SHIP.
1.-THE main deck was strengthened by
the addition of heavy beams, to enable
it to support the battery; berth deck
was laid for the accommodation of the
crew; the engine. which was partly above
the water line. was protected by sys-
tenn of woodwork and iron bars; the
ships rig was, altered so as to convert
her into a barkentine, with square sails
on her fore and mainmasts; the officers
quarters, Including my oN.. cabin, were
rearranged; new suits of sails were made
and new boats constructed; hammocks
and bedding were procured for the crew
and gums, gun carriages and ammunition
ordered. Two long. tendious months were
consumed in making these various alter
atoms and additions"
Guns for the Sumter had been dis
patched by rail from the large supply
secured by the Confederates with the
Norfolk navy yard, but" wrote Com
mander Semmes, weeks elapsed without
my being able to hear anything of them
was finally obliged 10 send a lieutenant
In search of them. who picked them up,
one by one as they had been thrown out
on the roadside, to make room for other
freight.
: MY gun-carriages I was obliged to
have constructed myself. and I was for
tunate enough to obtain the services of a
very ingenious mechanic to assist me in
this part of my duties-Mr. Roy, a for
mer employee of the custom house. with
In whose ample walls he had established
his workshop. He contrived most ingen-
iously, and constructed out of railroad
iron, one of the best carriages Cor rather
slide and circlel for a pivot gun, which
have ever seen. The large foundry of
Leeds & Co. took the contract for cast
ing my shot and shells and executed it to
l,1nn 10 1901 "A nn&ooho,o,,