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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.23 |
| 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 R. West regarding a major shuffling of commands and an unsuccessful blockade |
| Date | 20 September 1861 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, R |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Says there has been a major shuffling of commands. Commodore Stringham and Captains Nicholson of the USS "Roanoke," Mercer of the USS "Wabash," and Hull of the "Savannah," have all been detached. Says Goldsborough is to become flag officer and that the captains have been detached because they are all senior to him. Is happy that the navy is being innovative and taking on the "old officers." Says the blockade has been very inefficient up to this point. Says "Goldsborough is considered about the best officer in the service, among naval officers, and is said to be a man of great energy." Stringham was removed because he sent the "Flag" to Washington for repairs, which were not of sufficient importance. Says the vessels waste too much time at Hampton Roads, instead of at sea. Continues letter on 21 September and says that it is rumored that Captain DuPont will command the southern division of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Page 4 has a note in a different hand, initialled by West's mother as "RW." |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Blockade Union General Woman Author Women's History Children and Family |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) West, R. (fl. 1860-1865) |
| Place written | Hampton Roads, Virginia |
| 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: Recipient Relationship | Mother |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Main Eastern Theater |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "Wabash" |