The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20
I,rom Nol,,,nhln Stnte.

hinphan,ly IN the breezes OF ii. Gun
from the peak of the good ship sum
ter. Scmmes commanding" thus the
Confederate lighthouse Inspector for
the Gull division. with Headquarters
ia NV Orleans, announced 10 Mir.
Mallory. Secretary of the Navy, the
commencement OF the famous cruise
OF the Confederate states ship sumter.
Cloacly following the capture Of
Fort Sumter b. the Seccssionists In
Charleston. President Lincoln pro-
claimed the ports OF the South in Il
state of blockade. and. recognizing the
wcil established principle OF interna :
tional Law that ITO be binding, Il
blockade must be effective" nc dis
patched every available man-or-war
on that duty. In ills move, the Presi-
dent was seconded by the military
men OF the North, VINO saw clearly
that. If tho south was 10 bc cocrced,
il would he absolutely necessary to
prevent the passage OF vessels carry
in. munitions of war into her ports.
I'hc military men of the South saw
with equal clcarness that IL the South
MAS TO maintain her independence. IL
would only be after the armies OF the
Sorth were overwhelmed Airead?
hcr troops had created CONSERVATION
10 tho North. but, If the successes
gained were to be followed up 1T was
absolutely imperative that fresh sup
plies be bought IN foreign countries
.,nd brought Into her ports
I;nch Side active.
Consequently, we ma the naval au-
thoritics OF the North bending every
energy 10 whip every Imaginable kind
ot craft into shape for reinforcemcnts
TO the ships of the regular army. In
order tina, the blockadc might be
maintained ia tho highest state OF ef-
iicicncy. Their opponents. the nava!
authorities OF the south. we lind, on
the other hand, undertaking TO build
- navy with which 10 force the block
aiding neets TO withdraw. This task
may we'll be Chased as Herculancan.
for in the South, where there were
neither facilities for building vessels
of war nor the material necessary for
their construction and scnrfaring, WAS
an unknown art Nevertheless the
task was tackled with the vigor thai
won the admiration and respect not
only OF Europe. but OF the enemy in
blue himself.
The first fruit OF this work vas the
sumter, whose glorious career during
tic two years she plowed the seas in
cues, OF Northern commerce reflects
the greatest credit, not only on the in
RANT navy. but also on the mother navy
in which her gallant captain and most
~ her Officers received their naval
training.
The Sumter-origi nally the nabana.
=, merchant steam packet ship plying
between New Orleans and Habana--
WIS bought and retitted by the CON
Fcderate government at New Orleans
~ "A man ofwar. Her superstructure
Was removed. new engines and ma
chInery installed. and her sides pierced
Tor twelve pieces OF heavy ordnance.
Extensive alterations were made to
her sails. and, when completed, she
was easily the match in point of speed
OF any vessel her size afioat. The
command of her was entrusted TO
Commander Raphael Scmmcs - :. N,
who, following his resignation as a
lieutenant in the United States Navy
had gone to New York City on a Sc
cret Grand and had later been APP
pointed chief OF the lighthouse bureau
Of the new government. Seeing a fine
chance 10 do good service at sea, Com
Inauder Semmes had applied .or com
nIand OF the first man-of-war com
inissoned, and had been given the
sumter.
Hard to Escape.
Tho new captain set about mis- task
with characteristic energy, and made
ready to leave port at the earliest pos
siblc date under orders to do the
cucmy's commerce the greatest dam
age In the shortest time" The block
aiding feet had been notified of his in
tcntions, however. and kept on the
alert SO constantly that he experienced
tho greatest difficulty evadihg them
over. a month Captain Scmmes made
daily trips down the Mississippi to
tho different passes. hoping to get out.
hut each time he returned To his pier
at New Orleans without having sue
cccdcd.
During this period. he utilized every
-
shape and MAKE seasoned men-ot
wars men Of them. In this respect. he
had a great advantage over the Con
fcdcrate officers, VINO later were given
command OF vessels i'll That the sum
tcr's crew was wholly recruited in the
South, and were willing to 30 all m
their power to assist their officers.
The crew of the later vessels were al
most entirely foreign. and, not having
the South welfare at heart, We're not
willing to make any particular sacri
flee and often severe disciplinary mea-
surcS had TO be reSorted to In order
10 keep them in check.
At The time Captain Semmcs also
perfected system of communicating
with the Navy Department while
cruising. AS there are possibly many
who wonder how the captain of yes
sci communicated with his home base
in those days when wireless telegraphy
was unthought Of. and when few ca
bles were laid, II may be well to re-
late the simple. yet excellent. scheme
Captain Semmcs adopted. He bought
two copies of the same edition of
Reds English dictionary. ana sent
by n trusted officer to the Navy
Department. while the other he re-
Iained on the Sumter Then he com
lpunicated a message. he picked out
he words In the dictionary. giving,
instead Of the word tho number OF
tho page 1t was found on followed by
the number Of the words on the page
counting from the tog OF the pnge.
For example. tho word "prisoner" APP
pears In tho dispatch ms x 81. ~ Y.
Prisoner" being the forty-thtrd word