Naval hero for all the South, Raphael Semmes (1809-1877)
sailed two famous Confederate raiders. He outfitted CSS Sumter in 1861
and captured 18 Union merchant ships in six months before the raider was
blockaded at Gibraltar. Next he took command of CSS Alabama, an English-built
raider, and terrorized U.S. merchant vessels on the high seas from August
1862 until the raider was sunk in battle off Cherbourg in June 1864. During
that two-year period, he captured more enemy merchant ships than any other
cruiser captain in maritime history. He is considered one of the greatest
ship's commanders that America has produced.

In this first, full-scale biography that relies on Semmes's
private papers, unpublished diaries, and correspondence, Spencer has produced
a well-balanced and comprehensive account of the man, as well as the naval
officer. The biographer paints a vivid portrait of Semmes--the intellectual,
the family man, lawyer, romanticist, nationalist--providing a greater understanding
of the man behind the heroic deeds.

Semmes was born in Maryland to a slave-holding family
and entered the United States Navy in 1826. In 1849, he moved his family
to Mobile, Alabama, to be near the navy base at Pensacola, Florida, and
to practice law during leaves. Semmes was an astute student, not only of
international and maritime law but also of weather patterns; astronomy;
flora and fauna; naval, social, and cultural history; and the classics.
His study of constitutional law led him to side with his adopted state
in 1861, a move that set the stage for his place in history.

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The author, Warren Spencer quite obviously admires Semmes, and does a great historical job.

This is a short version of Semmes own book, which is a little over 800 pages.

Semmes was a very intelligent person, and an astute lawyer. His prowess upon the seas, still holds records to this day.

The Germans were ordered to study the tactics of Raphael Semmes with their U-boats.

I deduct one star from what could be a 5 star book, due to the aforementioned 'racist' nonsense. And secondly, the rareity of footnotes and primary sources.

The author uses quotation markes, where he quotes Semmes; BUT, there should be a footnote, with the primary source, preferably on the bottom of the page. There are some of us Civil War buffs, that stive for accuracy, and demands primary sources. I know Mr. Spencer used them; but footnotes, previously mentioned would have been as asset.

I wish to quote two very good lines from this book--

--"Our Southern movement, in the eyes of Spain, was a mere political revolution, and like all absolute governments, she had no sympathy with revolutionists. It was on this principle that the Czar of Russia has fraternized so warmly with the Federal President." [from Semmes journal]
[ authors note-'this is an insight into the diplomacy of the Civil War that has to date escaped the notice of authorities on the subject.]....If you're a Civil War buff, ( or a sailor) you should have a book, on Raphael Semmes, this book would be a good choice.