It sounds plausible that money taken from Adm. Semmes would come to light. When the Alabama was sunk off the coast of France, the crew abandoned ship, and were picked up by the crew of the Kearsarge. While she sank, everyone aboard the Kearsarge stood silently at attention. There were no cheers at her demise. Someone attached to the Kearsarge could have taken or been given money from Semmes.