362

IS, 1861, at the oubrcak, he resigned the Secretaryship of the Lighthouse Board at Wash-
ington, D. C, and took command of the Confederate steamer Sumter, at New Orleans,
ran the blockade at the mouth of the Mississippi, and in July, 1861, captured a number of
American vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. In August, 1862, he took command of the steamer
Alabama; he sunk the Hatteras, after a brief action, January, 1863, off Galveston. At the
evacuation of Richmond, Admiral Semmes had charge of the James River squadron. He
surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, May i, 1865.

The following is a list of vessels captured and destroyed by Admiral Semmes : Abbie
Bradford, Ben Danning. Ebenezer Dodge, Joseph Maxwell, Machias, Neapolitan, Alert,
Amazonian, Baron de Castine, Brilliant, Clara L. Sparks, Content, Elisha Dunbar, Express.
Harriot Spalding, Arcade, Cuba. Golden Rocket, Joseph Parks, Montmorency, Vigilance,
Altamaha, Annie T. Schmidt. Ben Tucker, Charles Hill, Conrad, Dorcas Prince, Emily
Farnum, Golden Eagle, Hatteras, Albert Adams, Daniel Trowbridge, Investigator, Louis
Kilham, Naiad. West Wind, Amanda, Annie, Bertha Thayer, Chastelaine, Courser, Dunkirk,
Emma Jane, Golden Rule, Jabez Snow, John A. Parks, Kingfisher, Lauretta, Louisa Hatch,
Martaban, Nora, Talisman, Olive Jane, Tycoon, Punjab, Virginia, Sea Lark, Weather Gage,
Justina, Lamplighter, Lafayette, Manchester, Winged Racer, Morning Star, Nye, Ocmulgee,
Tonowonda, Parker Cook, Union Jack, Sea Bride, Wave Crest, Sonora, Starlight, Kate
Cory. Lafayette I., Levi Starbuck, Martha Wenzcll, Nina, Ocean Rover, Thomas B. Wales,
Palmetta, Union, Rockingham, Washington and S. Gildersleeve.

GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE MEMORIAL ROOM.—This room has been furnished
through the liberality of the Brewers' Exchange of Baltimore, as a token of their
appreciation of the institution and of their admiration of the character of the great
commander. The following tribute to the memory of General Lee is from the late
Senator Benjamin H. Hill, of Georgia :

When the future historian comes to survey the character of Lee, he will find it rising
like a huge mountain above the undulating plain of humanity, and he will have to lift his eyes
high toward heaven to catch its summit. He possessed every virtue of the other great
commanders without their vices. He was a foe without hate, a friend without treachery.
a private citizen without wrong, a neighbor without reproach, a Christian without
hypocrisy, and a man without guilt. Hr was Caesar without his ambition, Frederick without
his tyranny. Napoleon without his selfishness, and Washington without his reward. He was
obedient to authority as a servant, and royal in authority as a true king. He was as gentle as
a woman in life, pure and modest as a virgin in thought, watchful as a Roman vestal in duty,
submissive to law as Socrates, and grand in battle as Achilles.

THE WARFIELD ROOM.—This room has been furnished in memory of Albert