Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States [Paperback]

Raphael Semmes (Author), John M. Taylor (Author, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 894 pages
• Publisher: Louisiana State Univ Pr; Louisiana paperback ed edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807120863
• ISBN-13: 978-0807120866
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,670,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Semmes was perhaps the best naval officer of his generation., July 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States (Paperback)

The book begins with an arguement for states rights which history has failed to record as the primary cause of the civil war. He goes into a detailed analysis of his beliefs and he reflects the thinking of his times. His story then goes into detail of his exploits as the greatest privateer in the history of naval warfare. Had he been on the winning side his name would be mentioned in the same breath as Grant and Sherman. Can anyone name one US naval officer that served in the civil war? His story takes the reader from Annapolis to New Orleans to the South Pacific to Gibraltar and to the final demise of the CSS Alabama off the coast of France. His tale explains his actions and defends them with an indepth look at maritime law. He explains the laws involved with a detail and style that makes it easy for anyone to understand. His story should not be allowed to fade into past. It is something from a terrible time that should be looked at by naval officers today. He is a man to be honored, not cast away as a pirate

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explains the cause of the Civil War, States Rights, March 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States (Paperback)

Semmes, a lawyer by trade, explains the reason why he resigns from the U.S. Navy to join the C.S. Navy. He explains why the Southern states disolve their union with the Northern states. The reason was an issue of states rights, not slavery as our children have been brain washed into believing. He explains as only a lawyer could the fact that all of the states joined in a union of common defense. They then formed a central government. They gave this central government limited powers. When the Southern states decided that this government was not responding to their needs they removed themselves from the union that they willingly joined. Semmes explains that the Federal government unlawfully forced the Southern states back into the union. The issue of states rights is still of importance to those of us who believe that the Federal government is slowly taxing us to death and eating away at our constitutional rights

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A REAL MAN!, May 20, 2002

By 

T. Canaday (SOUTH CAROLINA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States (Paperback)

The only bad thing I can say about this book is that on a very few occasions Semmes tends to get into some scholarly explanations about natural phenomena that, while interesting, slow the pace of the reading some.

Otherwise, Semmes tells of his adventures on the high seas with clarity and wit. The book's first few chapters give his legally sound (Semmes was also a lawyer) justifications of the Southern case for secession and his participation in the preparation for equipping a navy from practically nothing.

The Alabama's defeat of the iron-plated USS Hatteras and the final battle with the USS Kearsarge are there in detail in addition to the tale of her very successful commerce raiding upon the civilian commerce of the North.

Contrary to the rabid Northern newspapers of the time, Semmes reveals himself and his officers to be the gentlemanly knights of the high seas in stark contrast to the conniving Federal consuls who, in nearly every port, attempted to foil the Confederate sailors' coaling and supplying of the ship despite international maritime law that allowed it.

Semmes most effectively fought the mercantile world empire of the Union, all the while working within the confines of maritime law. (The few actions of his that were officially disputed were eventually settled in his favour.) This, again, is in contrast to the Federal navy that, under Welles' and Seward's leadership, played the bully and ignored international law when it was inconvenient.

The CSS Alabama (along with a few other CS ships) virtually shut down the US merchant marine -- a blow from which it never fully recovered. His fight with the Kearsarge proved to be the last best use of a ship that was otherwise bound to be blockaded in port by the Federal navy (that proved itself remarkably inept, apparently cowardly, and negligent in its mission to stop Semmes).