The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk
If you believe you should have access to this document, click here to Login.
| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.20 |
| 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 arriving at Fortress Monroe to find his expedition had already sailed |
| Date | 29 August 1861 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, R |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Arrived at Fortress Monroe in the morning and discovered "to my disgust" that his expedition has already sailed. Reported to Captain Gleason of the USS "Mount Vernon" as the senior commander at the fort and was told he had to find quarters wherever he could. Says he must wait for the commodore to return, but to be ready for any special service he might be wanted for. Says he is now staying in the lighthouse close to fort and is comfortable with nothing to do. Second page has a quick note about procuring envelopes and stamps in a different hand and appears to be written by his sister Mary. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Fortification Lighthouse Children and Family Blockade |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) West, R. (fl. 1860-1865) |
| Place written | Fortress Monroe, 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 "Perry" |