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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.12 |
| 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 |
| Date | 24 July 1861 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, R |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Says little has happened and they remain anchored at Alexandria. Says they were told to wait in readiness to man the town's batteries last night, but nothing came of it. Says the USS "Pawnee" is docked next to them. Went on shore and describes the town and the defeated soldiers from Bull Run. Has heard that no forward movement has been made by the enemy. Says "Last night and this morning they were reconnoitering from Washington in a balloon, and this morning it passed over Alexandria and descended just outside the town." Blasts the newspapers that were clamoring for the North to end their delays and attack. Continues letter on 25 July. Says he landed with a party of 20 men to man the entrenchments in town because it was rumored the Confederates were advancing. Says he heard that many regiments are enlisting, but that the three-month men are unwilling to reenlist. Received word that their pickets have been pushed back to Falls Church. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Blockade Battle Battle of Bull Run Confederate States of America Aviation Ballooning Fortification Journalism Recruitment Washington, D.C. |
| 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" |