Stiles/Akin
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
Eb Joseph Daniels
"From the Western Isle she sailed forth
Roll, Alabama, Roll
To destroy the commerce of the North
O Roll, Alabama, Roll"
On this day in 1862 the CSS Alabama was commissioned a mile off of Terceira Island in the Azores.
Constructed in secret by John Laird, Sons & Company near Liverpool, the CSS Alabama was the premiere commerce raider of the tiny Confederate Navy. She could be born by both sails and twin steam engines, and her top speed was over 13 knots. Armed with six 32 pounders, one 68 pounder, and one 110 pounder, the CSS Alabama could handle any merchant ship in battle but was outclassed by almost all military vessels. The ship's motto was "Aide Toi, Et Dieu T'Aidera," which means "Help yourself and the Lord will help you as well."
The captain of the CSS Alabama was the dashing Raphael Semmes, who had already earned a sterling reputation as a privateer for his exploits on the CSS Sumter. While most of the CSS Alabama's two dozen officers hailed from the South, the majority of her crew were of British extraction. Although most originally served out of a desire for spoils, many became as devoted to the Southern cause as their captain and stood by Semmes, first as their captain and later as their general, until the end of the War Between the States.
The CSS Alabama's first voyage was in the vicinity of the Azores, taking no less than 10 Federal merchant ships in its first full two weeks at sea. The privateers inflicted over $270,000 worth of damage to Federal shipping, including creating major disruptions in the whaling season.
Heading towards South America, the CSS Alabama took another 29 Federal vessels in the summer of 1863. At a time when Confederate armies were flagging from lack of supplies and men, the romantic success of blockage runners and commerce raiders like Semmes helped buoy Southern spirits. Semmes even managed to sink a Federal warship, the USS Hatteras, off the coast near Galveston.
In February of 1864 Semmes took his 65th and finally prize before setting sail for France, where he hoped to make repairs. Reaching the port of Cherbourg, Semmes was disturbed to find that the USS Kearsarge, commanded by Captain John A. Winslow had succeeded in trapping the CSS Alabama in port.
Fearing that more Federal ships would come to increase the blockade, Semmes decided to offer the USS Kearsarge battle, despite the fact that the CSS Alabama was already damaged. Although Semmes had tirelessly drilled his men to prepare for battle, the privateers of the CSS Alabama were ill-prepared to match arms against the seasoned seamen of the USS Kearsarge. Semmes was also confounded to learn that the USS Kearsarge had been partially retrofitted with chainmail sheathing, which allowed it to function as a pseudo-ironclad, outclassing the CSS Alabama.
Following a direct starboard hit just below the waterline, the CSS Alabama began to sink. Semmes started offloading sailors who wished to surrender into longboats which he sent towards the USS Kearsarge, which had withdrawn while the CSS Alabama was sinking. Semmes struck his colors to prevent the USS Kearsarge from continuing its barrages, but did not surrender himself, opting to throw his saber into the sea rather than hand it over to Captain Winslow. Semmes also refused to seek assistance from his Federal opponents; he and forty-one members of his crew remained on the sinking CSS Alabama.
Among their number was the ship's surgeon, Dr. David Herbert Llewellyn. He remained at his post, treating the wounded, until the order to abandon ship was given. He then refused a place in the lifeboats, despite the fact that he did not know how to swim. After the CSS Alabama went down, Dr. Llewellyn refused offers of assistance from other sailors to help keep him afloat, fearing that the others would tire themselves out trying to keep him alive. He was last seen holding on a piece of wreckage, but eventually slipped below the waves and drowned. For his actions he was awarded the Confederate Medal of Honor.
Eventually, an English yacht, the SS Deerhound, arrived to rescue Captain Semmes and the surviving crew. They were taken to safety in England, where they were feted as heroes.
In her total career, the CSS Alabama took $6,000,000 in spoils and prizes, which would be roughly the equivalent of just under $100,000,000 today. Her wreck was discovered in 1984 and has been the subject of several archaeological expeditions since then. Numerous artifacts, including her ship's bell, have been recovered and are now on display in various museums.
The CSS Alabama has also been the subject of numerous folk songs, including the English sea shanty "Roll, Alabama, Roll" and the Afrikaans song "Daar Kom die Alibama." The captain of the CSS Alabama, Raphael Semmes, is also believed to be an inspiration for the character Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind.
Image: The CSS Alabama (1961) by J.W. Schmidt
"From the Western Isle she sailed forth
Roll, Alabama, Roll
To destroy the commerce of the North
O Roll, Alabama, Roll"
On this day in 1862 the CSS Alabama was commissioned a mile off of Terceira Island in the Azores.
Constructed in secret by John Laird, Sons & Company near Liverpool, the CSS Alabama was the premiere commerce raider of the tiny Confederate Navy. She could be born by both sails and twin steam engines, and her top speed was over 13 knots. Armed with six 32 pounders, one 68 pounder, and one 110 pounder, the CSS Alabama could handle any merchant ship in battle but was outclassed by almost all military vessels. The ship's motto was "Aide Toi, Et Dieu T'Aidera," which means "Help yourself and the Lord will help you as well."
The captain of the CSS Alabama was the dashing Raphael Semmes, who had already earned a sterling reputation as a privateer for his exploits on the CSS Sumter. While most of the CSS Alabama's two dozen officers hailed from the South, the majority of her crew were of British extraction. Although most originally served out of a desire for spoils, many became as devoted to the Southern cause as their captain and stood by Semmes, first as their captain and later as their general, until the end of the War Between the States.
The CSS Alabama's first voyage was in the vicinity of the Azores, taking no less than 10 Federal merchant ships in its first full two weeks at sea. The privateers inflicted over $270,000 worth of damage to Federal shipping, including creating major disruptions in the whaling season.
Heading towards South America, the CSS Alabama took another 29 Federal vessels in the summer of 1863. At a time when Confederate armies were flagging from lack of supplies and men, the romantic success of blockage runners and commerce raiders like Semmes helped buoy Southern spirits. Semmes even managed to sink a Federal warship, the USS Hatteras, off the coast near Galveston.
In February of 1864 Semmes took his 65th and finally prize before setting sail for France, where he hoped to make repairs. Reaching the port of Cherbourg, Semmes was disturbed to find that the USS Kearsarge, commanded by Captain John A. Winslow had succeeded in trapping the CSS Alabama in port.
Fearing that more Federal ships would come to increase the blockade, Semmes decided to offer the USS Kearsarge battle, despite the fact that the CSS Alabama was already damaged. Although Semmes had tirelessly drilled his men to prepare for battle, the privateers of the CSS Alabama were ill-prepared to match arms against the seasoned seamen of the USS Kearsarge. Semmes was also confounded to learn that the USS Kearsarge had been partially retrofitted with chainmail sheathing, which allowed it to function as a pseudo-ironclad, outclassing the CSS Alabama.
Following a direct starboard hit just below the waterline, the CSS Alabama began to sink. Semmes started offloading sailors who wished to surrender into longboats which he sent towards the USS Kearsarge, which had withdrawn while the CSS Alabama was sinking. Semmes struck his colors to prevent the USS Kearsarge from continuing its barrages, but did not surrender himself, opting to throw his saber into the sea rather than hand it over to Captain Winslow. Semmes also refused to seek assistance from his Federal opponents; he and forty-one members of his crew remained on the sinking CSS Alabama.
Among their number was the ship's surgeon, Dr. David Herbert Llewellyn. He remained at his post, treating the wounded, until the order to abandon ship was given. He then refused a place in the lifeboats, despite the fact that he did not know how to swim. After the CSS Alabama went down, Dr. Llewellyn refused offers of assistance from other sailors to help keep him afloat, fearing that the others would tire themselves out trying to keep him alive. He was last seen holding on a piece of wreckage, but eventually slipped below the waves and drowned. For his actions he was awarded the Confederate Medal of Honor.
Eventually, an English yacht, the SS Deerhound, arrived to rescue Captain Semmes and the surviving crew. They were taken to safety in England, where they were feted as heroes.
In her total career, the CSS Alabama took $6,000,000 in spoils and prizes, which would be roughly the equivalent of just under $100,000,000 today. Her wreck was discovered in 1984 and has been the subject of several archaeological expeditions since then. Numerous artifacts, including her ship's bell, have been recovered and are now on display in various museums.
The CSS Alabama has also been the subject of numerous folk songs, including the English sea shanty "Roll, Alabama, Roll" and the Afrikaans song "Daar Kom die Alibama." The captain of the CSS Alabama, Raphael Semmes, is also believed to be an inspiration for the character Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind.
Image: The CSS Alabama (1961) by J.W. Schmidt
Bringing the