Raphael Semmes... knight-errant?

Mark F. Jenkins

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While in command of the cruiser CSS Alabama, Raphael Semmes twice departed from his mission of raiding US commerce to pick a fight with Union military forces. In the first instance, off Galveston, Semmes intended to slip in among the Army transports of General Nathaniel Banks to cause havoc; while the Southern recapture of Galveston a few days prior meant that there were no Army transports there for the Alabama to prey on, she did succeed in drawing off the converted gunboat USS Hatteras and sinking her.

On the second occasion, Semmes famously issued a challenge to the USS Kearsarge off Cherbourg, which proved to be the Alabama's undoing.

Was Semmes stepping out of line by diverging from his commerce-raiding activities to engage Union military vessels? He gambled and won with his encounter with the Hatteras; also present was the much larger and more heavily-armed Brooklyn, which could have made short work of the Alabama. Was Semmes being a bit quixotic with his ship?
 
In the first encounter Semmes needed something to boost morale for his crew. Most were non southern and were promised prize money and a fight against another warship. Since he could not sell his captures in a southern or friendly port no prize money was available. His crew on several occasions were ready to mutiny so Semmes felt it was the right time to take on a union gunboat.
In the second instance he had little choice. The Alabama was in rough shape after constant cruising and went into Cherbourg for refitting. The Kearsarge learned of this and blocked the port. Semmes could have dispersed his crew and sold the Alabama or fought it he chose the latter. He did not seek the second fight at all.
Semmes also notes in his writings that if the Brooklyn came out to chase him instead of the Hatteras he would have ran and would have never been caught by the much slower vessel.
 
I wouldn't call the engagement with Kearsarge a departure either; getting caught by one of your pursuers is a natural hazard of commerce raiding.

Galveston is still the one that puzzles me. It was basically an abandonment of Alabama's primary mission, she made no captures during the Gulf excursion, and there was probably not a lot of northern shipping to be had. On the other hand, there were plenty of Union warships in the blockading squadrons and supporting land operations, and by going that deep into the Gulf, Semmes put most of them between him and the open sea. Given the communications of the time, he could have only the vaguest idea what was happening around Galveston; as it turns out the battle for the port had already been fought. Communications also meant that a fast ship had a good chance of getting out before the enemy could block the two narrow exits from the Gulf, but if Alabama's presence became known she was in considerable danger.

If Semmes felt some compulsion to seek an engagement with a Union gunboat, there were plenty of them along the east coast, where he could make an unrestricted escape into the open Atlantic.
 
I dont really see how Semmes had much choice when it came to the USS Kearsarge. The Alabama was in port making much needed repairs and taking on supplies when the Kearsarge caught him there. In reality the Kearsarge gave Semmes a break because her captain allowed Semmes the time to make repairs to his vessel and to drill his crew on the coming battle. Also the USS St. Louis was en route to assist the Kearsarge so Semmes only had 4 choices really.

1) USS Kearsarge vs CSS Alabama
2) USS Kearsarge & USS St. Louis vs CSS Alabama
3) Hang out in port and let his ship sit there and be blockaded by the Union Navy (which is what happened once before with the CSS Sumter and he was forced to sell her in port and he most likely did not want to do again)
4) Surrender

So therefore he made the right choice in his eyes. Yes, he may have been a little cocky but who wouldnt. He achieved great sucess as a raider on both the CSS Alabama and the CSS Sumter.
 
If Semmes would have draped her hull with chain like the Kearsarge did or if the shot that hit the Kearsarges sternpost wasn't a dud the fight might have ended different. Over half the shots from the Alabama were some type of misfire or another due to the gunpowder being poor after a long cruise. He did very well while in command of the raider.
 
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Just to throw a movie reference in here, this thread reminded me of the scene from The Patriot where Colonel Tavington trys to take the field from the British Regulars with a cavalry charge. . .epic scene. I do remember the line spoken by the actor portraying Cornwallis said "we will see who takes the glory today. . ." Strong words.

Is it possible Semmes was seeking glory, glory that could only be achieved by battling it out with Union gunboats?
 
Just to throw a movie reference in here, this thread reminded me of the scene from The Patriot where Colonel Tavington trys to take the field from the British Regulars with a cavalry charge. . .epic scene. I do remember the line spoken by the actor portraying Cornwallis said "we will see who takes the glory today. . ." Strong words.

Is it possible Semmes was seeking glory, glory that could only be achieved by battling it out with Union gunboats?

That is somewhat based on an actual battle. The scheme of manuever for the Battle of Cowpens in 1780 is what that scene of the movie is based off of. Well played by Daniel Morgan.
 
Kearsarge gave Semmes a break because her captain allowed Semmes the time to make repairs to his vessel and to drill his crew on the coming battle

???? As long as the French let Alabama remain in port, there wasn't much the US Navy could do except wait. You make a good point that the longer Semmes waited, the more likely additional US ships would arrive, making it impossible to fight his way out and harder to evade them. It would be worth it for the USN to tie down 2-3 ships rather than have to hunt Alabama all over the ocean.

Did Semmes consider trying to slip out at night while there was still only one ship watching Cherbourg? At worst he'd end up fighting Kearsarge one-on-one as he did anyway. The ships were not too badly matched, at least if Alabama's shells worked properly; as noted one well-placed hit could make the difference. If there was a chance of getting out without a battle, he should have taken it, regardless of pride or whatever, and gotten on with his primary mission.
 
The french were under a ton of pressure from the US consulate to deny the Alabama even basic repairs. She couldn't stay for very long. The Alabama was in very bad shape and thats why he sent the letter to Capt Winslow saying he would bring her out in a couple days. He was buying time to get the Alabama in the best shape possible. As for escape the Kearsarge had Semmes pretty well bottled up. The port only had one way in and out and Winslow was a very good sailor. Escape was almost impossible with her boiler in the shape it was in and her bottom as fouled as it was. I think Semmes onnly had two choices. 1 fight her 2 disperse the crew and sell her (which he probably couldn't do anyway)
 
The french were under a ton of pressure from the US consulate to deny the Alabama even basic repairs. She couldn't stay for very long. The Alabama was in very bad shape and thats why he sent the letter to Capt Winslow saying he would bring her out in a couple days. He was buying time to get the Alabama in the best shape possible. As for escape the Kearsarge had Semmes pretty well bottled up. The port only had one way in and out and Winslow was a very good sailor. Escape was almost impossible with her boiler in the shape it was in and her bottom as fouled as it was. I think Semmes onnly had two choices. 1 fight her 2 disperse the crew and sell her (which he probably couldn't do anyway)
The french offered to exchange his cannon powder with fresh but he refused.
 
Very true. He said in later writing he didn't feel he had enough time and thought the lead and wood storage compartment had kept the gunpowder fresh and dry. Although he should have known better his guns performed poorly when he practiced them only a day or two before entering Cherbourg
 
Here's one of the better photographs of Raphael Semmes.
y6796.jpg
 
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