In July 1862, Confederate Captain Raphael Semmes took command of a secret new warship. At the helm of the Alabama, he became the most hated and feared man along the Union coast, as well as a Confederate legend. Now, with unparalleled authority, depth, and a vivid sense of the excitement and danger of the time, Stephen Fox describes Captain Semmes’ remarkable wartime exploits.
Burning one Union ship after another, he eluded capture time and again, ravaging Union commerce. But when the tide turned in favor of the Union, foreign ports were less willing to take in the Alabama—forcing Semmes to wander the oceans on a deteriorating ship, his ability to outwit the Union captains diminishing rapidly. Finally, in 1864, a Union ship sunk the Alabama—though not her captain—in a world-renowned battle.
Download and start listening now!
"/Extremely readable history-lots of fascinating facts about the War seen from the Confederacy. I was amazed at how far the ship traveled, and the effect that it had on the Union. " — Mom (4 out of 5 stars)
"/Extremely readable history-lots of fascinating facts about the War seen from the Confederacy. I was amazed at how far the ship traveled, and the effect that it had on the Union. "
“Meticulously researched and entertaining…A true tale of pirates, spies and naval warfare that reads like a thriller.”
“Excellent…An amazing account of adventures on the high seas, full of spies, treachery, and rousing battles.”
“Amazing…sheds light on a seldom observed aspect of [the Civil] War.”
“When you think of Confederate Civil War heroes, the names Lee, Jackson, Stuart and Longstreet, among others, come to mind. Historian Fox makes a convincing case that Confederate Navy Capt. Raphael Semmes should be added to that list…[A] fact-filled, cleanly written…well-conceived and executed military biography.”
“Whitener is the perfect choice to bring to life the exciting yet tragic adventures of Confederate raider Capt. Raphael Semmes…With Whitener’s expert reading, listeners can relive Semmes’ sea going triumphs and disasters. And Civil War enthusiasts will have a chance to hear about the conflict’s lesser-known episodes.”
“Fox has provided a healthy dose of excitement in this swashbuckling account of the exploits of an extraordinary naval commander…Fox’s account is filled with exciting battles, daring escapes, and interesting insights into the diplomatic wrangling between Britain and the US Civil War and naval warfare aficionados will treasure this book.”
“Rollicking…A virtuoso display of historical sleuthing [with] more than enough high seas excitement and intimate revelations to keep the reader turning the pages well into the night.”
" i don't know that i was fair to this book, i took a full week to listen to the first three cds, maybe if i'd listened to them closer together i'd of liked it. "
" This was a well researched book on the life of Raphael Semmes. Enjoyed "
" /Extremely readable history-lots of fascinating facts about the War seen from the Confederacy. I was amazed at how far the ship traveled, and the effect that it had on the Union. "
Stephen Fox is the author of six previous books, including Transatlantic, a history of the Atlantic steamship industry. He lives in Massachusetts.
Barrett Whitener has been narrating audiobooks since 1992. His recordings have won several awards, including the prestigious Audie Award and numerous Earphones Awards. AudioFile magazine has named him one of the Best Voices of the Century.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.