Hi y'all, Today the amazing story of Georgia native Richard Fielder Armstrong, 2nd Officer aboard the Confederate warship CSS Alabama, who, as the ship was sinking, and though wounded, dove into the sea to keep from being captured. Found floating on a plank by a French fisherman after hours on the water, he eventually made his way first to England, then eventually ran the Union blockade and rejoined the war. Richard was the brother of Aeneas Armstrong, whose tale was told in a previous installment. He was the son of General James and Jane Fielder Armstrong of Georgia. The information is taken from the collection of Armstrong family papers of Mrs. W.D. Stribling, in the State of Georgia Archives. The account was written by Jane Fielder Armstrong. "....Dick Armstrong entered Annapolis in his 15th year. He would have graduated in the summer but his state seceding he returned home immediately (and) joined the Confederate Navy. (He) went to New Orleans, joined (Capt.) Semmes who ran the blockade on the Sumpter. They put the steam up to the highest notch and went like the devil was after them. He cruised on the Sumpter until they took possession of the Alabama. "In the fatal fight between the Alabama and the U.N.S. ship, Semmes sent the challenge....The Alabama was sinking. (note: the CSS Alabama sank thousands of tons of Union shipping until she was finally caught near the end of the war in the French port of Cherbourg by the USS Kearsarge. After a fierce battle the overmatched Alabama was finally sunk. Richard Fielder Armstrong at that time was Second Officer aboard the Alabama.) "Dick got a plank and took to the water rather than surrender, although wounded in the engagement. He was picked up soon after by a fisherman in his boat. Insensible, he had been in the water several hours. He was resuscitated and cared for until he was able to take care of himself. ...He remained in France awhile, then went to London. (At) the first opportunity he returned to the U.S., ran the blockade at Charleston, and joined the troops. (He) fought until Charleston was evacuated. He then went on to Fort Fisher in N.C., fought there until that place was given up. He then went to Richmond, got there just as the Flag of Truce boat came up bringing the sad news of his brother's death." Information at the Georgia Archives indicate that he was given a Commendation for Gallant Conduct by the Confederate government prior to the end of the war for his actions in the defense of Battery Buchanon at Fort Fisher in North Carolina. Jeff Armstrong