Semmes's later appointments and the Navy's view of political officers

After losing Somers, Semmes served as first lieutenant of a larger ship. This gave him responsibility under another captain's supervision. He later received shore and lighthouse work, while some other officers were kept more actively employed. One possible explanation for his limited prospects is that he was regarded as unusually political. In this interpretation, senior officers' identification with the Navy itself helped sustain loyalty to the service when the country divided. The suggested connection between Semmes's politics and his appointments remains an interpretation of his career.