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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.53 |
| From Archive Folder | Correspondence of 90 letters and documents with 3 maps on the blockade of Port Royal, South Carolina |
| Title | Lewis H. West to Mary West [incomplete] stating that he will "not be altogether satisfied" if Lee is allowed to escape across the Potomac |
| Date | 19 July 1863 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, Mary |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written by Lewis to his sister Mary. References receiving her and Weir's joint letter. Says he will "not be altogether satisfied" if Lee is allowed to escape across the Potomac. Wants to know who General Meade is. Hopes to add Charleston to the column of victories soon, but says they have expended a thousand troops and more will probably have to go. Says he will probably not see much action as a blockader. Says an English ship tried to run the blockade without realizing Morris Island was in Union hands and received a devastating fire, sinking the ship. Says he has heard of "a grand copperhead riot in New York in which many people have been killed." Continues letter on 26 July. Is disgusted that he was sent to Bull's Bay, Georgia to relieve the USS "Flag." Tells of provisioning the ironsides at Charleston before he left and having to escape during a bombardment of the shore that took place over his ship. Is angry he was never involved in attack on Charleston and believes it is because he is a volunteer officer and not a regular officer. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Blockade Children and Family Confederate General or Leader Confederate States of America Union General Global History and Civics Copperheads Politics Draft Riots Death Mobs and Riots Conscription Ironclad Military Provisions Artillery |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Place written | Aboard USS "Ladona" off Charleston, South Carolina |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | West was a Union naval officer in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, mostly serving off South Carolina and Georgia. This collection begins with three documents from West's service on a merchant marine ship off China. He served on the USS "Perry" April-August 1861, the USS "Wabash" August-October 1861, the USS "Alabama" October 1861-October 1862, the USS "Ladona" (also spelled Lodona) October 1862-August 1863, the USS "New Ironsides" October 1863-April 1864, and the USS "Fernandina" April 1864-March 1865. Had the rank of Masters Mate from April-August 1861 and then served the rest of the war as an Acting Master. Letters detail the tedium of life in the blockade, coming across runaway slaves and contrabands, as well as several run-ins with Confederate submarines. Three hand drawn maps are at .27, .68, and .89. Most of the letters are to his mother (her initials are RW and she resides at 1316 Walnut Street in Philadelphia - West addresses his letters to her as "Mrs. James West"), sister (Mary), and someone who appears to be West's brother-in-law (Weir). He begins to write a woman he seems to be romantically interested in named Harriet Moore in 1864. From a reference at .63, West was born in 1829. He might have been living in New York before the war, but he definitely resides there after the war. About half the letters have an envelope. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "Ladona" |