the same year, fremantle was appointed to the position of assistant military secretary at gibraltar under governor william john codrington. in january 1862, the confederate commerce raider css "sumter", pursued by the union navy, arrived in port. the ship's commander, raphael semmes, sought to have his ship repaired and refitted, although ultimately the "sumter" was sold and its crew transferred to the newly constructed css "alabama". sometime in early 1862, the young british captain met the flamboyant confederate captain, and was inspired by semmes' tales of blockade running and combat on the high seas.