Diary of Gideon Welles: Wednesday, December 27, 1865

Have ordered Raphael Semmes to be arrested. He was, I see by the papers, taken in Mobile, and will soon be here. There are some nice points to be decided in his case, and I should have been glad had he absented himself from the country, though his case is one of the most aggravated and least excusable of the whole Rebel host. He did not belong in the Rebel region and has not therefore the poor apology of those who shelter themselves under the action of their States; he was educated and supported by that government which he deserted in disregard of his obligations and his oath; he made it his business to rob and destroy the ships and property of his unarmed countrymen engaged in peaceful commerce; when he finally fought and was conquered he practiced a fraud, and in violation of his surrender broke faith, and without ever being exchanged fought against the Union at Richmond; escaping from that city, he claims to have been included in Johnston's surrender, and therefore not amenable for previous offenses. Before taking this step, I twice brought the subject before the President and Cabinet, each and all of whom advised, or concurred in the propriety of, the arrest and trial of Semmes. It is a duty which I could not be justified in evading, yet I shall acquire no laurels in the movement. But when the actors of to-day have passed from the stage, and I with them, the proceedings against this man will be approved.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 404-5