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[Illustration:  Raphael Semmes.]

The cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter.

From the private journals and other papers of commander R. Semmes,
C.S.N.  And other officers.

Two Volumes in One.

New York: 

MDCCCLXIV.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by

GEO. W. Carleton,

in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE LONDON EDITION.

The following account of the cruise of the two Confederate States steamers—­Sumter and Alabama—­is taken from the private journals and other papers of Captain Semmes.  It has been found necessary occasionally to adopt a narrative form, but the endeavour has been throughout to adhere as closely as possible to that officer’s own words.

Information has also been most kindly afforded by other officers of the two vessels, and especially Lieutenant R.F.  Armstrong, and Master’s Mate G. Townley Fullam, from whose private journals and other papers much valuable assistance has been obtained.

A good deal of controversy has arisen respecting the legality of the course pursued by the Alabama, in the case of certain vessels claiming to carry a neutral cargo.  In all these cases, however, great care was taken by Captain Semmes to enter in his journal full particulars of the claims, and of the grounds on which it was refused admission.  These cases will be found quoted in full in the following volumes.

CRUISE OF

The Alabama and the Sumter.

CHAPTER I.

The Question at issue—­An unexpected point of attack—­Captain Semmes—­The President’s instructions—­Creating a navy—­From the old to the new—­An important mission—­Appointed to the Sumter—­True character of the Confederate “pirate."

The President of the American States in Confederation was gathering an army for the defence of Southern liberty.  Where valour is a national inheritance, and an enthusiastic unanimity prevails, this will not prove a difficult task.  It is otherwise with the formation of a navy.  Soldiers of Southern blood had thrown up their commissions in a body; but sailors love their ships as well as their country, and appear to owe some allegiance to them likewise.  Nevertheless, if Mr. Davis had not a great choice of officers, he had eminent men to serve him, as the