Alexander Alderman Semmes
Encyclopedia
Alexander Alderman Semmes (1825-September 22, 1885) was a career United States Navy
officer, who served with distinction in the American Civil War
. He was a cousin of Confederate
naval hero Raphael Semmes
, and also of Confederate general Paul Jones Semmes
.
on 27 October 1841. He attended the United States Naval Academy
and became a passed midshipman
on 10 August 1847. He was promoted to Lieutenant
on 15 September 1855. He became a Lieutenant Commander
on 16 July 1862. He attained the rank of Captain
on August 24, 1873, and was promoted to Commodore on March 10, 1882.
as a lieutenant during the first year of the war, during which time the vessel captured of the Confederate
schooner Aristides off Charlotte
harbor.
In March 1862, he was given command of the USS Wamsutta
, and participated in the Battle of the Riceboro River.
Semmes was promoted to lieutenant commander in July and given command of the new screw propeller gunboat USS Tahoma
on October 17, 1862. Serving in the East Gulf Blockade Squadron
commanded by Admiral Cornelius Stribling
, he was able to make seven captures off the west coast of Florida
, as well as launching an expeditionary attack at Tampa Bay
and engaging the shore batteries at Gadsden Point in April 1863.
In August 1864, he became commander of the USS Lehigh
, participating in the bombardment of Fort Pringle and in the operations at Charleston
until that city surrendered. He co-operated with Grant's army, fought the Howlett house batteries, and was present at the fall of Richmond in 1865.
. Semmes was ordered by Grant around December 1875 to Cape Palmas
, Liberia
in a show of force to stop the Grebo-Liberian War. Semmes pulled into Cape Palmas on February 3, 1876.
In 1880, Semmes was made the third president of the Board of Inspection and Survey
, which had been formed in 1868. He served as the board's president until June 1883. At the time of his death, he commanded the Washington Navy Yard
.
who was born in 1809, which indicates that Alexander Semmes was born in 1825.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer, who served with distinction in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was a cousin of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
naval hero Raphael Semmes
Raphael Semmes
For other uses, see Semmes .Raphael Semmes was an officer in the United States Navy from 1826 - 1860 and the Confederate States Navy from 1860 - 1865. During the American Civil War he was captain of the famous commerce raider CSS Alabama, taking a record sixty-nine prizes...
, and also of Confederate general Paul Jones Semmes
Paul Jones Semmes
Paul Jones Semmes was a banker, businessman, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early life:...
.
Naval career
Semmes became a midshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 27 October 1841. He attended the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
and became a passed midshipman
Passed midshipman
A Passed Midshipman, sometimes called as Midshipman, Passed, is an unused and historic term which describes a Midshipman who had passed the Lieutenant exam and was eligible for promotion to Lieutenant as soon as there was a vacancy in that grade....
on 10 August 1847. He was promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 15 September 1855. He became a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
on 16 July 1862. He attained the rank of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
on August 24, 1873, and was promoted to Commodore on March 10, 1882.
Civil War service
Semmes served on the USS Rhode IslandUSS Rhode Island (1861)
|-References:*Bauer, Karl Jack and Roberts, Stephen S. : Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 9780313262029.-External links:*...
as a lieutenant during the first year of the war, during which time the vessel captured of the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
schooner Aristides off Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
harbor.
In March 1862, he was given command of the USS Wamsutta
USS Wamsutta (1853)
USS Wamsutta was a steamer constructed for service with the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
, and participated in the Battle of the Riceboro River.
Semmes was promoted to lieutenant commander in July and given command of the new screw propeller gunboat USS Tahoma
USS Tahoma (1861)
USS Tahoma was a built by order of the United States Navy for service during the American Civil War.Tahoma was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
on October 17, 1862. Serving in the East Gulf Blockade Squadron
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
commanded by Admiral Cornelius Stribling
Cornelius Stribling
Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling was an rear admiral in the United States Navy who served during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, he was able to make seven captures off the west coast of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, as well as launching an expeditionary attack at Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
and engaging the shore batteries at Gadsden Point in April 1863.
In August 1864, he became commander of the USS Lehigh
USS Lehigh
USS Lehigh may refer to:, was launched 17 January 1863, decommissioned 8 September 1898 and sold 14 April 1904, was launched 25 November 1944 and decommissioned 6 November 1945...
, participating in the bombardment of Fort Pringle and in the operations at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
until that city surrendered. He co-operated with Grant's army, fought the Howlett house batteries, and was present at the fall of Richmond in 1865.
Postwar service
Semmes was Captain of the "man of war" U.S.S. AlaskaUSS Alaska (1868)
The first USS Alaska was a wooden-hulled screw sloop of war, built at the Boston Navy Yard. The ship was launched on 31 October 1868 and sponsored by Miss Grace Hull, the daughter of Mayor Hull of Boston. Alaska was commissioned on 8 December 1869, with Commander Homer C...
. Semmes was ordered by Grant around December 1875 to Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas
Cape Palmas is a headland on the extreme southeast end of the coast of Liberia, West Africa, at the extreme southwest corner of the northern half of the continent. The Cape itself consists of a small, rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Immediately to the west of the...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in a show of force to stop the Grebo-Liberian War. Semmes pulled into Cape Palmas on February 3, 1876.
In 1880, Semmes was made the third president of the Board of Inspection and Survey
Board of Inspection and Survey
The Board of Inspection and Survey is a U.S. Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess material condition of Naval vessels.The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.- INSURV teams :...
, which had been formed in 1868. He served as the board's president until June 1883. At the time of his death, he commanded the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
.
Personal life
Semmes married Mary Dorsey of Baltimore, Maryland in 1864. He died in 1885 at the age of 60.See also
- American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
- USS Rhode IslandUSS Rhode Island (1861)|-References:*Bauer, Karl Jack and Roberts, Stephen S. : Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 9780313262029.-External links:*...
- USS WamsuttaUSS Wamsutta (1853)USS Wamsutta was a steamer constructed for service with the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
- USS TahomaUSS Tahoma (1861)USS Tahoma was a built by order of the United States Navy for service during the American Civil War.Tahoma was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
- Board of Inspection and SurveyBoard of Inspection and SurveyThe Board of Inspection and Survey is a U.S. Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess material condition of Naval vessels.The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.- INSURV teams :...
Note
The first reference below indicates Alexander Semmes’ birthdate as 1809; however Alexander Semmes was 16 years younger than his cousin Raphael SemmesRaphael Semmes
For other uses, see Semmes .Raphael Semmes was an officer in the United States Navy from 1826 - 1860 and the Confederate States Navy from 1860 - 1865. During the American Civil War he was captain of the famous commerce raider CSS Alabama, taking a record sixty-nine prizes...
who was born in 1809, which indicates that Alexander Semmes was born in 1825.