Description:

Semmes Raphael



A fantastic vibrant signature on paper "Raphael Semmes". Lightly lined paper with light toning,  verso has small adhesive remnants to the corners.

 


In April, 1861, Raphael Semmes was accepted into the Confederate Navy and was initially assigned to serve as the head of the Lighthouse Board. Semmes was very disappointed with this assignment and was able to convince the Confederate Navy to allow him to convert a merchant vessel into a commerce raider, and was named the commander of the newly converted CSS Sumter. Using his new ship, Semmes successfully breached the blockade of New Orleans and was able to outrun the USS Brooklyn, a Union steam sloop, and head for open waters. After reaching open waters, Semmes began to hunt down Union merchant vessels. The CSS Sumter, under the command of Semmes, managed to capture eight Union merchant vessels off the shores of Cuba before heading further south towards Brazil where they captured four additional Union vessels. Semmes and his ship were eventually trapped in port by Union forces in January of 1862, and in April of that year he received orders to retire the CSS Sumter and return to the Confederacy.

 



Semmes began his career aboard the Alabama operating around the Azores, a chain of Islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Semmes continued his successes in commerce raiding and in the first two weeks of September 1862, Semmes damaged ten Union merchant vessels, including the whaling ship the Ocumglee, and inflicted 270,000 dollars’ worth of damage to the United States.


Semmes continued his cruise along the coasts of South America, where he destroyed twenty-nine Union merchant vessels throughout the summer months of 1863. In February, 1864 Raphael Semmes and his crew made their sixty-fifth and final capture. In June of 1864, Semmes docked his ship in a harbor in Cherbourg, France. Unable to use the French controlled dry-docks, Semmes’ position in the harbor left him vulnerable to a Union blockade. The Union forces were informed of the Alabama’s position, and shortly after Semmes settled in Cherbourg the Union ship USS Kearsarge arrived. Faced with a difficult decision, Semmes challenged the USS Kearsarge to avoid a full Union blockade, despite preexisting damages to the Alabama. Semmes and his crew struggled to pierce the chain armor of the Kearsarge, and the Alabama began sinking only an hour after the battle began.  While the Union forces were able to capture many members of Semmes’ crew, Semmes was able to escape aboard a British vessel.


Semmes remained abroad in both England and Cuba before returning to Mobile, Alabama on November 27, 1864. Semmes returned to the Confederate states a war hero and was promoted to the position of Rear Admiral in February, 1865. Following the Civil War, Semmes was held as Prisoner of War and eventually charged with treason on December 15, 1865.



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

***Please contact our office for information on third party shippers***


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000