The Wilmington morning star., 1945-09-29
Birthday Of Admiral Semmes
Observed By UDC Chapter Here

The Cape Fear chapter No. 3,
United Daughters of the Confeder-
acy, met Thursday afternoon in the
Ladies parlor of the First Presby-
terrain church for the first meeting
of the fall season. Mrs. c. L. Bragg
presided over the meeting and rou-
tine matters were heard.
Delegates to the national conven-
ton to be held in Houston Texas,
November 1923, were elected as
follows: Mrs. A. T. St. Armand,
Mrs. C. Wayne Spencer, Mrs. j.
A. Owen and Mrs. F. L. Smith;
alternates Mrs. H. S. McGirt, Miss
Sudie Leonard, Mrs. M. j. Carson
and Mrs. J. S. Crowley. No state
convention will be held but an en-
larged board meeting will be held
in Greensboro during October il
was announced.
The chapter observed the ami
versary of Admiral Raphael j.
Semmes with a talk by Mrs, E. E.
Purvis, Jr., who said, THE name
of one of the most monumental fig
ures looming up against the dark
background of our War Between
the States, one who ranks with Lee,
Jackson and Forrest and is rarely
mentioned in our public print -
strange to say, it is the immortal
name of Raphael j. Semmes. born
in Maryland on September q, 1909
He was taken into the home of his
uncle, Raphael Semmes, in George
town, District of Columbia upon the
death of his parents and reared by
his aunt, Mrs. Matilda Semmes
Mrs. Semmes seems to have beer
a remarkable woman in many re.
spects, possessed Of a brilliant
mind, gracious and charming man
ner and deeply religious. She knew
personally every. president from
Monroe to Lincoln, as well as Other
outstanding figures of the day. II
this atmosphere of culture, refine
ment and religious influence was
moulded the character of Raphae
Semmes. When a boy of II he be
came a midshipman in the United
States Navy, his active duty be
gan on September 8, 1926 on {
sloop of war in the Mediterrear
squadron. He completed three
months course at the Norfolk Nav
al school on April %, 1884 but i
was five years before there was E
vacancy in the commissioned rank.
and he was made a lieutenant
During this period he did probation
airy service, and during leaves o:
absence he practiced law. He mar
ried an Ohio girl, Ann Elizabeth
Spencer and six children survived
him. He saw both land and Sc;
service in the Mexican war ane
served all through it with credi
and distinction, afterwards goin,
into government service. Mean
while he had moved to Baldwin
Alabama and later to Mobile.
It would seem that a sketch O.
Admiral Semmes should be giver
in chapters, one of the polished
man of the world, one of his deep
ly religious nature, one of hi!
literary ability and achievements
one of his home life and children
and then one of the sufferings he
endured - the injusticies and in
dignities that were heaped upo1
him by the enemy. He was not only
versed in seamanship and all the
practical points of marine construc
ton, but was master of interna
tional law. His intellectual pow
ers are most attractive in his ear
ly books on the Mexican war, as
interesting a narrative of travel az
can be found. He resigned the Unit
ed States service in February IS
1861 with rank of commander anc
went to the Confederate capita.
to give his views on national de-
Tense. He was then dispatched
north to purchase munitions, ships
etc. Later he was given the frs
high seas command II the n W
Navy CSS Sumter, but he had tt
rebuild and arm her as a man Of
Sponsored by the Grace Methods