Diary of Gideon Welles: Wednesday, January 3, 1866

General James Watson Webb called on me. He has been laid up by the gout at his son-in-law's, Major Benton's, house. He came home from Brazil via Paris, saw Louis Napoleon, dined with him, gave him good advice, wants to get out of Mexico, etc., etc. Has communicated to the President the Emperor's feelings and wishes. No doubt he saw Louis Napoleon, with whom he had a close acquaintance when that dignitary wanted friends and perhaps a dinner. It is creditable to him that he is not ungrateful to Webb.

Colonel Bolles, Solicitor and Judge Advocate, desires to prefer a number of charges against Semmes, and has, I fear, more thought of making a figure than of the point I wish presented; that is, a breach of parole, bad faith, violation of the usages of war in the surrender and escape from the Alabama. That he and a million of others have been guilty of treason there is no doubt; that he ran the blockade, burnt ships after a semi-piratical fashion there is no doubt; so have others been guilty of these things, and I do not care to select and try Semmes on these points, though perhaps the most guilty.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 410

Congressman Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, September 9, 1866

CINCINNATI, September 9, 1866.

MY DARLING:— Dr. James' [Webb's] letter to Dr. Davis makes me again anxious about Mother Webb. Dr. Davis will go up if nothing unforeseen occurs in a few days. I hope her case will turn out more favorably than Dr. James seems to apprehend.

I sleep at Dr. Davis' and feed where hunger overtakes me. I speak every night. The canvass has opened in a way that is most encouraging and exceedingly pleasant to me. I have been in five country precincts including the most distant one and in three wards and at the great city meeting. My written speech has gone off well, and the offhand speech reported in the Commercial of today, which I send you, delivered at the big meeting in Court Street took better than any speech I ever delivered. The report is a good one but omits "laughter and cheers" of which there was a superabundance.

Many things please me. I always felt as you did that it was a sort of degradation to have Gaslobs about assuming to be my rival in the party. He has now gone, as you see, clear over and is speaking for the Rebs.

A lot of old Kanawha soldiers, chiefly Thirty-fourth men, after I was done speaking last night, came onto the stand and carried on in a style that would have delighted you. If it keeps going as it begins, you would enjoy being here.

Love to all, particularly Grandmother.

Affectionately ever,

R.

MRS. HAYES.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 30-1

Reported Challenge — published May 27, 1856

WASHINGTON, May 26.—It is reported that Hon. Preston S. Brooks of S. C., has challenged Gen. Webb of the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer, in consequence of an article in that paper commenting upon the assault upon Mr. Sumner. Gen. Webb disavowed the authorship of the article in question, and declined to accept the challenge.

[SECOND DESPATCH.]

WASHINGTON, May 26, P. M.—Mr. Brooks has not challenged Gen. Webb. A correspondence has passed between them in relation to the article in question, General Webb stating that the article was not written by himself, but his view will appear to-morrow in the Courier and Enquirer, over his own signature.

SOURCE: Richmond Daily Whig, Richmond Virginia, Tuesday Morning, May 27, 1856, p. 3