It is now thirty-seven years since the Alabama sank in the green waves off Cherbourg. Those of us who were old enough to read the newspaper extras that were issued when the account of it was telegraphed home are old enough to know better than to call Semmes a pirate.
Action between the Kearsarge and the Alabama.
(Rescue of the crew of the Alabama by the Deerhound.)
From an engraving of the painting by Chappel.
Semmes having escaped to England, was counted a hero there, and a fine sword was given to him to replace the one he threw into the sea. Let the prejudiced shipowner who lost money through the work of this sea rover candidly ask himself what kind of a sea captain it is who, knowing his force is inferior, sails boldly out to meet a watchful enemy, and then fights till his ship is shot from under his feet.
Raphael Semmes earned the right off Cherbourg to have his name inscribed in the list of the sea heroes of America.
The total number of prizes made by the Alabama was sixty-nine, of which fifty-three were destroyed, two had their cargoes only destroyed, and eleven were bonded. The Florida took thirty-seven, of which twenty-eight were destroyed. While the number taken was but a small percentage of the American merchant fleet, the effect of the captures was to raise insurance rates, frighten shippers as well as shipowners, and so prevent the employment of the ships at sea. The carrying trade utterly abandoned American ships.
Whitworth Rifle Captured from the Shenandoah.