NF Raphael Semmes

[Rebelsoul]

Which book do you think is the best about Semmes and why ? I'm looking for one but I'd like to hear some opinions first, thanks.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sir, I'll take a shot at this.

A lot of the published info on Semmes is closely tied to the two raiders he captained, CSS Sumter and CSS Alabama.

The books about these cruises cover Semmes somewhat but are focused on the voyages;

'Wolf of the Deep: Raphael Semmes and the Notorious Confederate Raider CSS Alabama' by Stephen Fox

'The CSS Alabama: The History of the Famous Confederate Raider that Sank Off the Coast of France during the Battle of Cherbourg' by Charles River Editors

'Shark of the Confederacy: The Story of the CSS Alabama' by Robinson, Charles M., III

'Rebel Raider Being an Account of Raphael Semmes Cruise in the CSS Sumter' by Harpur A Gosnell

Books about the man;

'Raphael Semmes: The Philosophical Mariner' by Warren F. Spencer

'Raphael Semmes' by Colyer Meriwether

Books by the man himself - Beware, he was a lawyer...These read like legal briefs, 'brief' being the last word anyone would use to describe his writings...

'Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States' by Raphael Semmes

'Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter' by Raphael Semmes

HTH,
US ALASKA
https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Confed...F8&qid=1519924382&sr=1-6&keywords=css+alabama

 

[AndyHall]

Good list.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Wow - I have no idea what happened to my post - I'll try to clean it up...

USS ALASKA

 

[KeyserSoze]

"The Alabama and the Kearsarge: The Sailors Civil War" by William Marvel is pretty good, though lends more towards the Kearsarge than Semmes.

An interesting side note: After the destruction of the James River squadron, Semmes rounded up the crews and fought with Lee's army as infantry. After surrender, Semmes insisted his parole papers list his ranks as Rear Admiral, Confederate Navy and Acting Brigadier General, Confederate Army. Thus being the only known individual, to me at least, to hold flag rank in the army and the navy simultaneously.

 

[Rebelsoul]

Sir, I'll take a shot at this.

A lot of the published info on Semmes is closely tied to the two raiders he captained, CSS Sumter and CSS Alabama.

The books about these cruises cover Semmes somewhat but are focused on the voyages;

'Wolf of the Deep: Raphael Semmes and the Notorious Confederate Raider CSS Alabama' by Stephen Fox

'The CSS Alabama: The History of the Famous Confederate Raider that Sank Off the Coast of France during the Battle of Cherbourg' by Charles River Editors

'Shark of the Confederacy: The Story of the CSS Alabama' by Robinson, Charles M., III

'Rebel Raider Being an Account of Raphael Semmes Cruise in the CSS Sumter' by Harpur A Gosnell

'Confederate Raider: Raphael Semmes of the Alabama' by John M. Taylor

[URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20']'Raphael Semmes: Captain of the Confederate Raider "Alabama" ' by [URL='https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Colyer+Meriwether&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Colyer+Meriwether&sort=relevancerank']Colyer Meriwether [/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]
[URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20']
[URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20']'[URL='https://www.amazon.com/CONFEDERACY-Alabama-Captain-Raphael-Semmes/dp/B0000CJV2E/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519925603&sr=1-15&keywords=raphael+semmes']GHOST SHIP OF THE CONFEDERACY The Story of the Alabama and Her Captain Raphael Semmes' by Edward Boykin[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]
[URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20']Books that are written by the man himself. Beware - Semmes was a lawyer and his books really concentrate on him defending his actions and that of the Confederacy as if he was in a courtroom. They almost read like very lengthy court briefs. ( 'brief' being the LAST word anyone would use to describe ]Memoirs of Service Afloat[/U][/I][/COLOR] )
[URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20']
[URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20'][URL='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJHD10/?tag=civilwartalkc-20']'[URL='https://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Service-Afloat-During-Between/dp/1555211771/ref=sr_1_sc_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519925370&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=Raphel+Semmes']Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States' by Admiral Raphael Semmes[/URL][/URL][/URLPlease check out these titles on Amazon and read the descriptions and reviews. Hopefully that will help narrow down the selection to something you are lookin for.
Maybe @Mark F. Jenkins or @AndyHall can chime in here. This might get more interest on the Naval Board.HTH and Good Luck,USS ALASKA[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]

Thanks Alaska, I just ordered Wolf of the deep.

 

[Rebelsoul]

Yes I knew about Semmes fighting as infantry. Thanks for the info.

"The Alabama and the Kearsarge: The Sailors Civil War" by William Marvel is pretty good, though lends more towards the Kearsarge than Semmes.

An interesting side note: After the destruction of the James River squadron, Semmes rounded up the crews and fought with Lee's army as infantry. After surrender, Semmes insisted his parole papers list his ranks as Rear Admiral, Confederate Navy and Acting Brigadier General, Confederate Army. Thus being the only known individual, to me at least, to hold flag rank in the army and the navy simultaneously.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Acting Brigadier General, Confederate Army

Was this ever confirmed by the Confederate government? I don't believe it was. Or is that what the 'acting' implies?

Thanks,
USS ALASKA

 

[James N.]

Was this ever confirmed by the Confederate government? I don't believe it was. Or is that what the 'acting' implies?

Thanks,
USS ALASKA

He's included in Ezra Warner's classic Generals in Gray as one of the 425 "official" Confederate generals. (Although it does include a few whose ranks were never confirmed by the CS Senate.)

 

[Rebelsoul]

Was this ever confirmed by the Confederate government? I don't believe it was. Or is that what the 'acting' implies?

Thanks,
USS ALASKA

I actually tried once awhile back to get through Memoirs afloat but it was so dry and technical on certain things that I lost interest in it. Maybe I'll try again someday.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Maybe I'll try again someday.

No doubt there - I had to force my way through it. If you REALLY want to get into the mind of a true believer to understand their view point, this is the book. If you need a sleep aid and don't want to go the chemical route, this works also.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Rebelsoul]

No doubt there - I had to force my way through it. If you REALLY want to get into the mind of a true believer to understand their view point, this is the book. If you need a sleep aid and don't want to go the chemical route, this works also.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

LOL

 

[USS ALASKA]

@Rebelsoul

If Confederate commerce raiders interest you, I can recommend 'Gray Raiders of the Sea' by Chester G. Hearn as a good overview before diving into the histories of the individual ships.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Rebelsoul]

@Rebelsoul

If Confederate commerce raiders interest you, I can recommend 'Gray Raiders of the Sea' by Chester G. Hearn as a good overview before diving into the histories of the individual ships.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Yes I am interested in them. I would also like to find a good book about the C.S.S Shenandoah if you or anybody knows of any.

 

[USS ALASKA]

@Rebelsoul

'The Last Shot: The Incredible Story of the C.S.S. Shenandoah and the True Conclusion of the American Civil War' by Lynn Schooler

'Sea of Gray: The Around-the-World Odyssey of the Confederate Raider Shenandoah' by Tom Chaffin

'Last Flag Down: The Epic Journey of the Last Confederate Warship' by John Baldwin and Ron Powers

'A Confederate Biography: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah' by Dwight Sturtevant Hughes

'The Last Confederate Ship at Sea: The Wayward Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah, October 1864-November 1865' by Paul Williams

'The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah: A Memorable Cruise' by William C. Whittle Jr

My pic would be Sea of Gray.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Rebelsoul]

@Rebelsoul

'The Last Shot: The Incredible Story of the C.S.S. Shenandoah and the True Conclusion of the American Civil War' by Lynn Schooler

'Sea of Gray: The Around-the-World Odyssey of the Confederate Raider Shenandoah' by Tom Chaffin

'Last Flag Down: The Epic Journey of the Last Confederate Warship' by John Baldwin and Ron Powers

'A Confederate Biography: The Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah' by Dwight Sturtevant Hughes

'The Last Confederate Ship at Sea: The Wayward Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah, October 1864-November 1865' by Paul Williams

'The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah: A Memorable Cruise' by William C. Whittle Jr

My pic would be Sea of Gray.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Thank you sir, I will definitely check them out !

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

'Raphael Semmes: The Philosophical Mariner' by Warren F. Spencer

I think this was the best one I've read. Spencer also wrote the excellent The Confederate Navy in Europe, about the entire Confederate naval purchasing and building effort, primarily in Britain and France; substantially the story of James S. Bulloch, it makes a good complement to Philosophical Mariner.

ETA: Confederate Navy in Europe also more concise and less flowery than Bulloch's memoirs, important though those are! Spencer's a good writer.

 

[TinCan]

Old Beeswax is my all time favorite admiral/general or general/admiral.

 

[Rebelsoul]

I don't know about General but the man was one hell of a naval commander indeed !

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

My favorite bit (mentioned elsewhere) is that during the Mexican War, during one of the battles closing in on Mexico City-- can't remember which one off the top of my head, not enough coffee yet-- two small field guns were hoisted up to the roof of a small church. Semmes, then a Navy Lieutenant, was attached to Winfield Scott's staff, and he took the opportunity to get involved by commanding one of the guns. The other gun was commanded by a young Army Lieutenant-- Ulysses S. Grant. Neither man mentions the other in his memoirs, and it's entirely possible they never afterward realized who the other one had been.