The April 16th Inserv US Navy site had an article about a Civil War Union Naval officer who had what could be considered an unfortunate Confederate Naval name. That man would be Commodore Alexander Alderman Semmes (1809-1885).
He was promoted to Lt. Commander in July 1862, and became a commander after the war. In 1882, he became a commodore.
He was commander of the USS Tahoma in the East Gulf Blockade Squadron during much of the war. Because of his service, he had many illnesses. He had the reputation of being a very aggressive commanders and made a lot of blockade-runner captures and raids along the coast.
In 1861, he served on the USS Rhode Island and in 1862, commanded the USS Wamsutta. After assuming command of the Tahoma, a new 158 foot screw propeller steamer, in his first six months, made seven captures of ships trying to slip through the blockade.
He led an expeditionary force in an attack on Tampa and engaged shore batteries at Gadsden Point.
A NAME BY ANY OTHER NAME
Earlier in life, his family had taken in Raphael Semmes and his brother Samuel after their parents had died. As such, he grew up with later Confederate Navy Admiral Raphael Semmes who at one time commanded the CSS Alabama.
I wonder if this ever caused any problems in his climb through the ranks?
What's in a Name? --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
