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Greatest ships captain in American history

Here's to Rafael Semmes, Maryland boy, the most successful ships
captain in all of history.

After resigning his commision in the US Navy he became a commander in
the Confederate States Navy.

He started as captain of the CSS Sumpter the Souths first commerce
raider. During 6 months at sea he captured 17 American merchant ships.

Then he was given command of the CSS Alabama.

During 22 months at sea, without ever operating out of a home port, the
Alabama cruised around the world attacking Union shipping as a commerce
raider.

Spending 534 of 657 days of her life at sea, the Alabama cruised the
eastern seaboard of the U.S., the Carribean, the Brazilian coast, the
Azores, along South Africa, the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the
Bay of Bengal, capturing 447 vessels and capturing or sinking or
burning 65 Union merchant ships at cost of over $6 million to the US.

As word of his success spread most US merchant ships were so scared
they didnt leave port.

Finally a powerful Union warship the USS Hatteras met up with the CSS
Alabama off the Texas coast on Jan 11, 1863. The Hatteras was quickly
sunk and her crew captured by the Alabama.

The Alabama was finally sunk by the warship USS Kearsarge in a battle
off France June 19, 1864, mostly because the Alabama had been at sea
for so long her gunpowder and fuses wer wet. The 2 ships fired hundreds
of rounds at each other but some of the hits made by the Alabama didnt
explode.

But Semmes escaped. Returning to the Confederacy he was made Rear
Admiral. Later he was given command of ground troops and made a
Brigadier General. The only man in US history to be an Admiral and a
General at the same time.

On December 15, 1865 Semmes was arrested at brought to Washington to be
tried for treason and Piracy.

Since commerce raiding is a legitimate wartime action all charges were
later dropped.

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Greatest ships captain in American history
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