I've been consulting a reference and have discovered that the first Confederate commander of the Diana was not Semmes. It was Lt. T.A. Nettles. Nettles became seriously ill during the battle of Bisland. Major Thomas Ochiltree of the Sibley Brigade and on the staff of General Taylor recommended the Captain Oliver J. Semmes and Ed McGowan be assigned to the Diana. Ochiltree assumed that Semmes would have a better background in Naval affairs because of his family background. The Major was shaken when Semmes first act was to use chalk to write "starboard" on one side of the deck and "larboard" on the other so he wouldn't make mistakes while issuing orders!