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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.08 |
| 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 discovering a confederate signal book in the possession of a captured officer |
| Date | 8 June 1861-16 July 1861 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, R |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Letter begins on 8 June at sea and continues on 17 June (he writes July 17, but that is impossible) at Fernandina, Florida; 27 June; 8 July; and 16 July at Hampton Roads, Virginia. On 8 June says he is 30 miles south of Savannah and near their destination of the boundary between Georgia and Florida. Says their departure from Charleston was sudden and was not able to tell her that he was put in charge of the privateer that was captured a week earlier. Was overhauling her and found the signal book, which gave them the ability to read Confederate signals from the shore. Tried to trick another ship into coming out to assist them, but the ruse failed. Describes the prisoners they took. Says it is easy for the newspapers to demand they be strung up as pirates, but that things get complicated when you meet them and realize they are decent human beings. Says the men were drunk when they were captured and refused to fight when they realized they were going to be caught. Found copies of the Charleston "Mercury," which has given them up-to-date news. Goes on to critique some of the views expressed in the paper. Wants his mother to "Let every body at home who possesses any influence whatever with the government, impress upon it, the immense importance of sending out a fleet of light draught steamers as soon as possible, or our commerce will suffer heavily." Says they arrived off Florida on 12 June and describes his blockading duties. On 25 June tells of stopping a Russian ship that just made it out of port under deadline. Tells his mother that he mans the "powder division" and that he is stationed below deck. Describes his duties. Says that privateers are not pirates and explains his reasoning. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Privateering Children and Family Confederate States of America Codes and Signals Prisoner of War Pirates Journalism Death Penalty Steamboat Merchants and Trade Commerce Alcohol Blockade Global History and Civics Ammunition |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) West, R. (fl. 1860-1865) |
| Place written | At sea |
| 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 | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "Perry" |