Malcolm Innerarity - Dec 4, 2003 Viewers | Reply to this item< Ernest is my long-lost brother. I lost him twice and I vowed never again. Praise the Lord that I found the rest of my family again.
Malcolm Raymond Innerarity

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2003

Dane Knezek is doing a paper on the Sixties and sent me a bunch of questions. Here's a couple:

6. Why didn't more of the prominent beats join Kesey's promotion of psychedelic drugs as an eye-opening agent?

Everyone does what they want; have their own agenda. Kesey wasn't a promoter, he was a performer.

7. What level of success did Kesey and the Pranksters achieve in popularizing LSD use, and in breaking down conformist ideology?

Just because we used LSD doesn't mean we were promoting its use. Dangerous drug if taken lightly; must be of sound mind and body and have good touchstones in life or else fall by the wayside muttering and mumbling like a ravaged mind sucked by venusians, which is a way, I guess, of breaking down conformist ideology.

From :
Sent : Friday, December 5, 2003 11:30 PM
To : "Robert Register"
Subject : Burning of University

| | Inbox


Mr. Register:

I did not know until I saw copies of documents you recently sent me that you had an interest in the University of Alabama's history. Two eyewitnesses described to me the burning of the University in 1865. One of these was Thomas Clinton, who published articles in the local papers and whose papers are in the Tuscaloosa Public Library. The other was the daughter of President Landon C. Garland, who later married Eugene A. Smith. Smith, in 1865, was, I believe the student commandant of cadets at age 25. I have been told that he had been in the Confederate army. Although in his old age and my young age I knew him well, he never told me anything about this. But Mrs. Smith did. After Smith died in 1927, she burned his papers, for reasons that are inexplicable. Somehow I acquired some of the empty file boxes, which I used for many years. President Garland led the cadets off out of the way, to the south, accompanied by Smith, who then walked home to Prattville.

Incidentally, Smith was sent by his family to Germany, where he studied geology and some other things. When he returned, he became a professor at the University of Alabama and state geologist. He had much to do with the development of the mineral industries in Alabama. Smith's father was a physician, and his mother, I believe, was a sister of Daniel Pratt, a principal leader in the establishment of industries in Alabama. His original enterprise eventually evolved into the Continental Gin Company of Texas. Smith lived on the University campus, where the physics building now stands.

Alex Sartwell, who used to be librarian of the geological survey and, when I last saw him, had an office in the Oil and Gas Building, devoted a great deal of time to the study of Eugene A. Smith. If you can find him, you might like to talk with him.

On archaeological studies of the University of Alabama Dr. Jerry Oldshue is the principal authority. He is retired but still lives here. I presume you know him. He has also studied University documentary
records extensively.

These are just tidbits, but you might find something useful in them.

Sincerely,
James F. Doster.

Semmes commenced his run, at the last minute the Pilot lost his nerve, saying he did not have any knowledge about the bar at the Pass a L’Outre, surely a ploy on his part, probably not wanting to be accused by Unionists, on his return, of aiding the escape to sea of a Confederate vessel.

Semmes was about to risk all, and steer for the bar at full speed, when a boat manned by four strong young negroes, with a young Pilot aboard, came alongside.

Sumter gathered speed, aided by a swift current and safely crossed the bar, easing just long enough to disembark this intrepid Pilot.

Finally, the first Confederate Cruiser was finally free and at sea.

Although Brooklyn soon gave chase and at one stage looked as if she would overhaul Sumter, the Rebel ship was able to ensure her pursuer was deprived of the prevailing wind. Her combined screw and sails allowed her to slowly draw ahead, and the Union ship gave up her pursuit.

Semmes took his Raider south towards Cuba, and on the 3rd. of July sighted the Union ship Golden Rocket of 607 tons out of Maine, her Captain most suprised to find himself, his crew, and his ship, the first victim of a Confederate Cruiser. The crew were taken aboard Sumter, and a prize crew soon prepared their capture to be destroyed by fire. One of Semmes’s Officers Lieutenant John Kell described their feelings as they torched this ship:

“It was a sad sight to a sailor’s eyes, the burning of a fine ship. We had not then grown accustomed to the sight with hardened eyes.”

Early the next morning two more sailing ships were sighted, a blank shot from a 32 pounder gun brought them smartly to a stop, but the neutral cargo for these two brigs, Machias and Cuba saved them from burning. With prize crews on board they were taken under tow towards the Cuban port of Cienfuegos, France under a Proclamations of Neutrality had stopped belligerants from bringing prizes into French ports, but to date Spain had not made up her mind in this regard. By International law, cargoes remained the property of any neutral owners, but their ships were claimed as prizes by their captors.

Whilst under tow, the reduced speed of Sumter forced the cutting of the tow lines, and Semmes told the captured vessels to follow him into port, but under darkness the crew of Cuba overcame the small prize crew to reclaim their ship, and she was gone, no where to be seen.

When close to Cienfuegos, two more prizes were taken, sugar traders Albert Adams and Ben Dunning, again neutrality saved their destruction.

As Semmes was sheperding his three prizes into port, a tug with three ships in tow, all flying American flags came into sight, he now intended to add these ships to his prize list, just as soon as they were clear of Spanish jurisdiction.

When the Pilot joined Sumter, imagine his suprise, when Semmes informed him that he would first capture the three ships just towed down to the ocean by the tug, and then he wished to be Piloted into port, but by then with six prize ships in hand. The new vessels were Louisa Kilham from Boston, Naiad ex New York, and West Wind of Westerly, Rhode Island.
When trying to enter the harbour with his captured brood, a fort at the entrance opened fire with muskets, the Confederate Flag not being recognised, and being thought to be flying from a Pirate ship. All was soon sorted out and Semmes given approval to enter port.

The local Governor referred the request of Semmes for these prizes to be retained by the Confederate States to Madrid. Of course in those times, all mail travelled by sea, and took weeks to arrive, then the matter in hand needed study, and any decision in turn, took weeks to arrive back at its point of origin.

When the Governor of Cienfuegos was ducking giving Semmes a straight answer to his request, he was unaware that his Queen back in Spain had, on the 17th. of June, already decided to take the same stance on neutrality as had France and Great Britain.

Semmes took on 100 tons of coal, and on the 7th. of July was again at sea.

His first few days at sea had resulted in a flurry of activity and success, but in the end all this effort for little material gain.

It was much later before Semmes learned that Spain had returned his captured prizes to their owners, indicating these ships were taken inside Spanish territorial waters. The Captain of Sumter was furious at this decision, he hoped that when the Southern States were victorious, they would annex Cuba and divide it into a further two new Confederate States, but in hindsight, we know that was never to be.

He had however kept all the crews from his prizes on board, reasoning that without their crews, the Union ships, whatever their fate, would remain idle in Cuba for a long time to come.

The Cuba, after overthrowing the Sumter prize crew had reached New York, here they were commited on a charge of piracy, but subsequently all were exchanged.

After a number of fruitless days at sea Semmes headed for Curacao, although an experienced sailor, like the famous British Admiral Lord Nelson, the Capain of Sumter suffered the agony of sea sickness, which at times threatened to lay him low, but he was determined to pursue his life at sea for the Confederate cause

CSS STONEWALL

CSS Stonewall (1865)
CSS Stonewall, a 1390-ton ironclad ram, was built in Bordeaux, France, for the Confederate Navy. Embargoed by the French government in February 1864, prior to her launching, she was subsequently sold to Denmark. Upon completion of her construction in late 1864, the Danish government would not accept delivery and her builder secretly resold her to the Confederates.

Commissioned at sea as CSS Stonewall in January 1865, she attempted to obtain supplies in French waters, then sailed for Madeira, Azores, en route to America, where she was ordered to attack Federal naval forces and commercial shiping. Forced into Ferrol, Spain, by a storm, she was confronted by USS Niagara and USS Sacramento in March 1865. However, these wooden warships avoided action when the well-armed and armored Stonewall put to sea on 24 March. After calling at Lisbon, Portugal, the Confederate ironclad crossed the Atlantic, reaching Havana, Cuba, in May. As the Civil War had then ended, she was turned over to Spanish Authorities.

In July 1865, the Spanish delivered Stonewall to the United States Government. She was laid up at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., for the next two years, and then sold to Japan. In Japanese service, she was initially named Kôtetsu and, after 1871, Azuma

This hatred for war and death remained part of Victoria's life throughout her reign. When the American Civil War was fought the cotton manufacturers in Manchester and other commercial and industrial leaders of the UK were supportive of the Confederacy, yet Victoria's loyalties lay within the Union. She would not allow these parties to offer aid and comfort to the South when she could prevent it.


The Trent affair threatened the Queen's loyalty to the Union, however, and for a while it seemed that she might finally side with the Confederacy. Victoria's support either in the form of troops or money to fund the Confederacy's desperate attempt at freedom would no doubt have brought about a very different ending to the war.


In October 1861 Jefferson Davis appointed John Slidell and James M. Mason diplomatic agents and granted them the power to enter into conventions for treaties with France and England. They were charged with obtaining from these foreign powers recognition of the Confederate States government. They set out first on the "Theodora", a blockade runner, which set sail past Union blockades out of Charleston, SC bound for Havana. Upon reaching Havana, Cuba they were met by the British consul and placed aboard the "Trent", an English mail ship.

The "Trent" set sail for England on November 7, 1861 and the next day was overtaken by the "San Jacinto", Capt. Charles Wilkes, USN, commanding and Slidell and Mason with their assistants were forceably removed, put aboard the "San Jacinto" and taken to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. For his efforts Capt. Wilkes enjoyed a brief moment of recognition for his capture of the two Southern diplomats, but within days the praise quickly turned to criticism when U. S. leaders realized the action was considered hostile by England and could easily turn England's loyalties toward the Confederacy.


England demanded the release of the prisoners and set about preparations to send troops to the Canadian border along with a shipment of Enfield rifles and ammunition. President Lincoln recognizing the seriousness of this action ordered the laws to be researched and to determine the extent of damage caused by Wilkes' actions.


Had Victoria ordered the troops to advance the U.S. would have been sandwiched between invading troops from the Canadian border and the Confederacy which was already their enemy at war, and which would certainly have received shipments of arms and ammunition from Victoria for its defense.


Mr. Seward hastily left to meet with Mr. Adams, the U.S. Minister at London where it was decided the official statement would be that Wilkes had acted of his own accord without orders in removing the four men from a British ship on the high seas.


W. H. Seward, U.S. Secretary of State, disavowed the action and "cheerfully liberated" the men in order to avoid England either declaring war on the U.S. or recognizing the Confederacy. The Queen and Prince Consort could not ignore such an action with the rest of the world watching, yet they wanted to avoid entering into the war if possible.


Albert's last act was to rewrite dispatches dealing with the Trent affair so that the language was tempered yet effective. He had been ill prior to this undertaking and remarked to the Queen when they were given to her that he was so weak he could hardly hold the pen. He was convinced the U.S. did not want war with England and spent his last energy trying to avoid it. He died only a few days later never having recovered his strength.

THE CSS SUMTER

The first man-of-war to get to sea under the Confederate flag was the Sumter. She was a screw steamer of 500 tons, and had formerly been the Spanish steamer Marquis de Habana. She was strengthened, a berth deck was put in, the spar deck cabins removed, and she was armed with an 8-inch shell gun, pivoted amidships, and four light 32-pounders in broadside. On April 18, 1861, Commander Raphael Semmes was ordered to the command of her, with the following officers: Lieuts. John M. Kell, Robert T. Chapman, John M. Stribling, and William E. Evans; Paymaster Henry Myers; Surg. Francis L. Galt; Midshipmen William A. Hicks, Richard F. Armstrong, Albert G. Hudgins, John F. Holden, and Joseph D. Wilson; Lieut. of Marines B. K. Howell; Engineers Miles J. Freeman, William P. Brooks, Matthew O'Brien, and Simeon W. Cummings; Boatswain Benjamin P. Mc-Caskey; Gunner J. O. Cuddy; Sailmaker W. P. Beaufort, Carpenter William Robinson, and Captain's Clerk W. Breedlove Smith.
On the 30th of June the Sumter sailed from the mouth of the Mississippi, and although chased by the United States steamer Brooklyn, got fairly to sea. Captain Semmes cruised along the south side of the island of Cuba, taking eight prizes, and thence went to Cienfuegos. From there he cruised down the Spanish main, and on the 13th of November anchored at St. Pierre, Martinique. Here he was blockaded by the United States ship Iroquois for nine days, but on the night of the 23d he adroitly made his escape, and crossed the Atlantic to Cadiz, where he arrived January 4, 1862, taking several prizes on the way. Not being permitted to coal, he proceeded to Gibraltar, which port he reached on the 19th of January. Here he was blockaded by the United States vessels Tuscarora, Kearsarge and Chippewa, and it was decided to lay the ship up. The Sumter captured 7 vessels, of which 2 were ransomed, 7 were released in Cuban ports, 2 were recaptured, and 6 were burned.

About a year ago, I posed some questions to the capn which someone contemplating going into the remodeling business would ask. I asked ten questions and the capn replied,"Give me the answers!!!!" and the rest is history.
So now times have changed and due to my inability to provide myself with constant adult supervision, I have had to go out and get someone who could provide me with all the adult supervision I would ever want: A BOSS.
In order to describe this crossroads in my life, I have composed the TOP TEN REASONS FOR HIRING ON TO WORK FOR A BOSS

1O. Your boss has more work to do than anyone could ever finish.[This places you in midstream of a cash flow running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week....etc, etc]

9. Your boss gives you a company vehicle.[Full access to all company vehicles with a gas allowance enhances your ability to hold onto ready ca$h]

8. Your boss likes to repay your loyalty by allowing you to take off work whenever you have personal reasons or when you are able to pursue more profitable enterprises. [This is very important when you encounter side jobs where you can pick up a few hundred in a few hour$]

7. The opportunity of seeing "THE HOUSE"(a.k.a. the company you work for) prosper.
[It is always best to get in at the beginning of any endeavor. That way your industry and enterprise are instantly recognized as the company's profits steadily increase]

6. Full access to a modern office that can become "a home away from home" [Here we're talking about long distance telephone access, cell phone service, fax, broadband internet access, office supplies, xerox machine and a boss who doesn't give a rat's ass whether porn is found on the computer or whether you and your date plundered the company liquor cabinet while "working late at the office"]

5. Being able to rub shoulders with all your bosses friends [Rich guys tend to own lots of "BIG BOY TOYS",however, their heavy schedule prevents them from fully enjoying all of the delightful plunder they have accumulated which includes: airplanes, air boats, jet skis,guns, forests, farm land,power tools, boats, trucks, heavy equipment, fishing ponds, swimming holes, beach houses, river banks and camp houses. All of these things need someone to enjoy them. That's where you come in.]

4. Your boss wears your size clothes, has your taste and gives you all his old hand-me-downs.[This allows you to wear the finest Madras sportshirts, the sharpest leather belts, the latest sneakers and the most comfortable leather shoes on the market]

3. You and your boss come from similar backgrounds and your boss has become your mentor.[Probably best for your boss to be older than you and to have been in business for decades before you ever show up. He may be your boss but he will become your friend and confidant.]

2. The passion that drives your boss is similar to your own driving passion.[You know what makes him tick and not only that, you enjoy what makes him tick]

1. Your boss understands the passion that drives you. [He knows and respects the only thing you would do everyday whether you were paid to or not]


And Hell, capn, if it don't work out you can go do what you were doing when you first walked into your bosses office: LOOK FOR A JOB!!!!
Saludos,
Roberto