Tag Archives: Raphael Semmes

A death on Kearsarge Avenue

For two years the CSS Alabama wreaked havoc with Union shipping. That stopped on June 19, 1864 when the USS Kearsarge sunk the rebel commerce raider off the coast of France. John Winslow, the Kearsarge’s commander, died at his home … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago, Naval Matters, Veterans | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“a dirty Yankee trick”

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 30, 1865: Arrival of Captain Semmes. Washington, December29. –Captain Semmes arrived here last night by the train from New York, in charge of a guard of United States Marines, and was at once taken … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Postbellum Politics, Postbellum Society, Reconstruction | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

this is the end … (apr)

Another Monday morning in Richmond. Another pugnacious editorial from the Daily Dispatch? No, as the paper explained eight months later, it went temporarily out of business 150 years ago today as Richmond burned and the Union army entered the city. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“the disruption of a great Government”

“and the ruin of an entire people” 150 years ago today the Union army attacked the outnumbered Army of Northern Virginia along the Petersburg-Richmond front. The rebel army retreated and the rebel government had to evacuate its capital. And Raphael … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Naval Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“the Yankees were moving”

As “Lee’s Adjutant”, Walter Taylor, wrote to his girlfriend, 150 years ago today he had to leave church service early because he received word that, groundhog-like, the Union army had aroused itself from winter slumber and was on the move. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

sunk in the channel

On July 4, 1864 the Richmond Daily Dispatch published an editorial ridiculing the United States Navy: The United States Navy. The Navy of the United States has had an inglorious part to play in this war. It was once the … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Naval Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

guano gone

The CSS Alabama is still at work disrupting commerce on the high seas. Here’s how Raphael Semmes, the ship’s commander, remembered the pursuit and capture of a boat full of fertilizer 150 years ago this week. From Memoirs of Service … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Naval Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ahoy, Y’all!

Confederate Navy hasn’t begun to fight. A Southern editorial from 150 years ago today thinks the Confederate government should wake up to the potential of a bigger Confederate navy. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 2, 1863: The Confederate Navy. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Naval Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

High and Dry in Jamaica

1863 has been quite a year so far for John Arnett, a ship’s mate in the Union navy from Seneca Falls, New York. On New Year’s Day his ship, the Westfield, was blown up to prevent capture by the Confederates … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Naval Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Putting Mouth Where Money Is

According to Wikipedia The three major tasks of the Confederate Navy during the whole of its existence were the protection of Southern harbors and coastlines from outside invasion, making the war costly for the United States by attacking U.S. merchant … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Naval Matters, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment