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Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States Kindle Edition

by Raphael Semmes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 26 ratings

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A number of publications have appeared, first and last, concerning the author and his career, as was naturally to have been expected. The Alabama was the first steamship in the history of the world—the defective little Sumterexcepted—that was let loose against the commerce of a great commercial people. The destruction which she caused was enormous. She not only alarmed the enemy, but she alarmed all the other nations of the earth which had commerce afloat, as they could not be sure that a similar scourge, at some future time, might not be let loose against themselves. The Alabama, in consequence, became famous. It was the fame of steam. As a matter of course, she attracted the attention of the book-makers—those cormorants ever on the lookout for a “speculation.” A number of ambitious literateurs entered the seductive field. But it was easier, as they soon found, to enter the field than to explore it, and these penny-a-liners all made miserable failures,—not even excepting the London house of Saunders, Otley & Co., to whom the author was induced to loan his journals, in the hope that something worthy of his career might be produced. To those who have chanced to see the “Log of the Sumter and Alabama,” produced by that house, it will be unnecessary to say that the author had no hand in its preparation. He did not write a line for it, nor had he any interest whatever in the sale of it, as the loan of his journals had been entirely gratuitous. So far as his own career was concerned, the author would gladly have devolved the labor of the historian on other shoulders, if this had been possible. But it did not seem to be possible, after the experiments that had been made. With all the facilities afforded the London house referred to, a meagre and barren record was the result. The cause is sufficiently obvious. The cruise of a ship is a biography. The ship becomes a personification. She not only “Walks the waters like a thing of life,” but she speaks in moving accents to those capable of interpreting her. But her interpreter must be a seaman, and not a landsman. He must not only be a seaman, he must have made the identical cruise which he undertakes to describe. It will be seen, hence, that the career of the author was a sealed book to all but himself. A landsman could not even interpret his journals, written frequently in the hieroglyphics of the sea. A line, or a bare mark made by himself, which to other eyes would be meaningless would for him be fraught with the inspiration of whole pages.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00M1T2M7C
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Library of Alexandria (July 29, 2009)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2009
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2908 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 615 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1512125512

Best Sellers Rank: #2,225,550 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #6,030 in Biographical Historical Fiction
- #26,196 in Occult (Kindle Store)
- #124,788 in History (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 26 ratings

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Margie Read

Now this is a BOOK

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2014

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I may not live long enough to finish this amazing tale told by Admiral Raphael Semmes of his command of the Confederate Navy ship in the War Between the States. This is the biggest book I have ever owned page wise. It is so heavy it is hard to sit and study which is why reading it takes so much time. But I intend to keep at it because Admiral Semmes can write and his thoughts and opinions are well worth learning. It is recommended to any history buff for informative and enjoyable reading.

7 people found this helpful

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Wesley Massey

The Most Powerful Patriotic Writing I Have Ever Read

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2013

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This is an incredible accounting of the reasons for the War of Nothern Aggression and the defense for the freedom from tyrannical powers. In reading these memoirs, I get a true look at the difference in today's generation and that blessed generation of brave men that had tasted of the actual liberty that this once great Nation's founding fathers risked and sacrificed all that they had to obtain! It is a must read for any who would consider themselves a patriot of these United States of America.

6 people found this helpful

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Jan Berkhout

Memoires of a Confederate Admiral

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2018

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If you have ever read Jules Verne's 20,000 leagues under the sea, you will enjoy this book.

It seems completely divorced from the usual military history of the Civil War. Raphael Semmes fought for the South on the open seas as a commerce raider, destroying American merchant ships, until his own ship was sunk by the US frigate Kearsarge off Cherbourg in 1864.

Raphael Semmes was devoted to the Confederate cause. His political views are no longer acceptable. Nevertheless, he fought honorably for his country as the captain of the one Confederate warship at large on the world's oceans, and his account is well worth reading.

5 people found this helpful

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Bull Run Bear

the print is way too small

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2023

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The hardcover edition is well bound. The content offers a fascinating insight into the exploits of the man and the attitudes of the times. Unfortunately, the print is so damn small reading is uncomfortable. That's an understatement. Why the publisher chose such a small font size when the pages have plenty of room is beyond me. This is inexcusable for a 40 dollar book. If I had paid full price, I would have returned it.

I'll continue to look for an edition that is usable and will avoid this company in the future.

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NC Tar Heel

Admiral Semmes Unreconstructed Southerner

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2016

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Interesting book written by a man devoted to the Confederacy. Very spirited defense of the South and vehement condemnation of the North as well as a chronicle of his service as captain of the CSS Alabama and Sumter. Definitely not a boring impersonal narrative. Likes to quote poetry and use commas. The book is divided into 59 chapters. The first 6 chapters are devoted to the events which led to the War. The narrative of his service afloat begins in Chapter 7 and is based on the logbook that he kept aboard the CSS Sumter and CSS Alabama.

5 people found this helpful

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George O'Macon

Required Reading

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2014

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A great adventure story which would make it suitable for adolescent boys through old men, but it has frequent political commentary. The commentary is well-informed, but even so, it would mean little to adolescent boys. Senior high school and older.

3 people found this helpful

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Jack Legrone

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2015

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The author's writing skills provide an account of the CSS Alabama's cruises that is enjoyable to read.

2 people found this helpful

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Pat Hines