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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.13 |
| 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 events following the Battle of Bull Run and asking how he deals with his secessionist contacts |
| Date | 29 July 1861 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, R |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Says the scattered troops have been reorganized. Reports on conditions in town saying "I took a party of seamen on Saturday night as a reinforcement for those already in the trenches, and was painfully struck by the appearance of things in general. Not a soul was to be seen in the streets except soldiers, some of them off duty, lounging about, or drunk, and ready for any outrage." Says their naval brigade has done good work. Says they are led by a Lieutenant Parker, "who is true blue, although he has a brother on the secession side. How do you get on with all our secessionist connections, I should think that it must be rather a delicate piece of work to manage things." Continues letter on 30 July. Fears that the Confederates are placing batteries at Malthias Point, which would shut down navigation of the Potomac. Is angry about being in Alexandria. Blames it on his captain because "he managed to get us sent here for repairs, because he was more at home in Washington, than anywhere else, although it was well known that the facilities for getting what we wanted, were less here, than in any other navy yard." Says he "dont know enough to be captain of an oyster boat!!" Hopes to get a transfer soon. Continues letter on 2 August. Says his captain is going to leave as soon as a successor arrives. Says he went to Washington and witnessed the improvements General McClellan has implemented. Says "Every body since the disaster of Bulls Run seems to look to him as the man for the occasion. Wants information on family and friends in the military. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Union General Alcohol Secession Confederate States of America Children and Family Patriotism Washington, D.C. Fortification Artillery Battle Battle of Bull Run Blockade |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) West, R. (fl. 1860-1865) |
| Place written | Alexandria, 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" |