Ed Semmes, a descendant of Admiral Raphael Semmes, said the story of the C.S.S. Alabama and his great-great-great-grandfather was one of service and one for Alabama.
The Alabama is celebrated as the most successful Southern raider commerce ship. During the Civil War it fought against Union ships including the Hatteras.
Construction began on the C.S.S. Alabama in July 1861 in Liverpool at a cost of $250,000.
The ship was built to power by steam or sail. As a commerce ship, it accommodated 120 men and 24 officers.
The Alabama was able to leave Liverpool on a faked dry run.
Semmes boarded the ship later while docked in the Caymen Islands.
Ten weeks into the cruise, it had captured 23 enemy ships.
Semmes collected intelligence from newspapers during the war for the fight against the Union.
During the nearly two years of operation, the ship sank or captured 66 ships belonging to the Union.
The Alabama took 2,000 prisoners during its’ cruise and Semmes was credited for not losing one of the captured.
The ship’s final battle was near Cherbourg, France with the U.S.S. Kearsarge. After nearly an hour of fierce fighting, the Alabama sank.
Semmes was a lawyer following the war and died from poisoning in 1877.
Local News
Related Photos
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Ed Semmes, right, presented to the Athens Rotary Club recently a historical account of the cruise of the C.S.S. Alabama and Admiral Raphael Semmes during the Civil War. Jason Thomas, left, and John Totten were program chairs.
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War hero’s descendant speaks to Rotary
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