Synopses & Reviews
Naval hero for all the South, Raphael Semmes (1809-1877) sailed two famous Confederate raiders. He outfitted CSS Sumter in 1861 and captured 18 Union merchant ships in six months before the raider was blockaded at Gibraltar. Next he took command of CSS Alabama, an English-built raider, and terrorized U.S. merchant vessels on the high seas from August 1862 until the raider was sunk in battle off Cherbourg in June 1864. During that two-year period, he captured more enemy merchant ships than any other cruiser captain in maritime history. He is considered one of the greatest ship's commanders that America has produced. and#160; In this first, full-scale biography that relies on Semmes's private papers, unpublished diaries, and correspondence, Spencer has produced a well-balanced and comprehensive account of the man, as well as the naval officer. The biographer paints a vivid portrait of Semmesand#151;the intellectual, the family man, lawyer, romanticist, nationalistand#151;providing a greater understanding of the man behind the heroic deeds. and#160; Semmes was born in Maryland to a slave-holding family and entered the United States Navy in 1826. In 1849, he moved his family to Mobile, Alabama, to be near the navy base at Pensacola, Florida, and to practice law during leaves. Semmes was an astute student, not only of international and maritime law but also of weather patterns; astronomy; flora and fauna; naval, social, and cultural history; and the classics. His study of constitutional law led him to side with his adopted state in 1861, a move that set the stage for his place in history. and#160;
Review
"The best biography of Semmes to date. A well-balanced study with new insight on his pre-Civil War career as well as his exploits during that conflict." and#151;William N. Still Jr., East Carolina University
Review
and#147;Spencerand#133;remains true to his purpose to produce a balanced biography explaining more of Semmesand#8217; humanity rather than just recounting high-seas adventures of the hard-bitten Confederate and#147;pirate.and#8221; and#151;The Florida Historical Quarterly and#160;
Review
and#147;[Spencerand#8217;s] admiration for Semmes as a naval officer is fully justifiedand#133;[Semmes] was the first commerce raider to operate in the age of steam, andand#151;here I am in full agreement with Spencerand#151;he may have been the best of all time. and#151;American History magazine and#160;
Synopsis
Naval hero for all the South, Raphael Semmes (1809-1877) sailed two famous Confederate raiders. He outfitted CSS Sumter in 1861 and captured 18 Union merchant ships in six months before the raider was blockaded at Gibraltar. Next he took command of CSS Alabama, an English-built raider, and terrorized U.S. merchant vessels on the high seas from August 1862 until the raider was sunk by USS Kearsarge in a sea battle off Cherbourg in June 1864. During that two-year period, Semmes captured more enemy merchant ships than had any other cruiser captain in maritime history. He is considered one of the greatest ship's commanders that America has produced. Most biographers of Semmes have concentrated on his Civil War experiences, but in addition to describing those exciting exploits, Spencer investigates the intellectual development of Semmes and the complexity of his nature. Furthermore, this is the first full-scale biography to rely on Semmes's private papers, unpublished diaries, and correspondence. Spencer paints a vivid portrait of Semmes - the intellectual, the family man, the romanticist, and the nationalist - providing a greater understanding of the individual behind the heroic deeds.
Synopsis
In this first, full-scale biography that relies on Semmes'sand#160;private papers, unpublished diaries, and correspondence, Spencer has producedand#160;a well-balanced and comprehensive account of the man, as well as the navaland#160;officer.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [235]-241) and index.
About the Author
Warren F. Spencer is professor emeritus of history at the University of Georgia. He is author of
The Confederate Navy in Europe.