Our readers will see, by-and-by, from the quotations we shall make from the Captain’s Log, that he is as little the hungry fire-eater which many of his admirers suppose him to be, as he is the Black Pirate of the New York press.  Captain Semmes is a native of Charles county, in Maryland, a State that has furnished numerous patriotic citizens to the South.  Before accepting his new service he had taken honourable farewell of his old.  The Federals had no charge to bring against him before the day when he stepped on the deck of the then unknown and insignificant Sumter steam-vessel.  What they may have said later is of no particular consequence; nor can it be thought to be greatly to the discredit of Captain Semmes that they have cried out loudly, and as men in pain.

CHAPTER II.

The Sumter formerly the Savannah packet-ship—­Captain Semmes joins and assumes command—­Altering the vessel—­Vexatious delays—­The war begins—­The river blockaded—­Crew of the Sumter—­Dropping down the river—­An attempt—­No pilots—­Vigorous action—­Sumter still at her anchors—­Lamps removed from lighthouses—­More enemy’s ships—­Orders on board the Sumter—­False hopes—­The 30th of June—­A courageous pilot—­The escape of the Sumter—­The chase—­The enemy baffled.

The little vessel which now constituted the whole strength of the Confederate navy, was a merchant screw-steamer of 501 tons burthen.  She had been hitherto known as the Havannah, and had plied as a packet-ship between the port of that name and New Orleans.  She was now to be extemporized into a man-of-war, and in her new guise was to achieve a world-wide celebrity, and to play no unimportant part in the great struggle between North and South.

Arrived in New Orleans, Captain Semmes at once proceeded, in company with Lieutenant Chapman, to inspect his new command—­of which he speaks with evident satisfaction as a “staunch and well-built” vessel.  In her then condition, however, she was by no means fitted for her new duties; and he accordingly devoted all his energies towards effecting the alterations necessary for that purpose.  The first step was to disencumber her decks of the long range of upper cabins, thus materially increasing her buoyancy as a sea-boat, and diminishing the area exposed to the enemy’s shot and shell.  Then a berth-deck was laid for the accommodation of officers and crew, and the main deck renewed and strengthened to carry the heavy 8-inch shell-gun, mounted on a pivot between the fore and mainmasts, and the four 24 pounder howitzers of 13 cwt. each, to be mounted as a broadside battery.  Additional coal-bunkers were also constructed, and a magazine and shell-room built in a suitable position, and these and a few other less important changes effected, the transformation was complete, and the little Sumter ready to proceed upon her work of devastation.