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Field name | Value |
---|---|
Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.06 |
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 his ship |
Date | 21 May 1861 |
Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
Recipient | West, R |
Document Type | Correspondence |
Content Description | Says they were supposed to leave earlier, but had to wait for the paymaster. They might leave tomorrow. Says the "secessionists" got some batteries up on both sides of the river and fired on the "Monticello" (West says she was also called the "Star") and goes on to describe the firefight. Six shots hit the ship, but no one was hurt. Says an English ship tried to pass through the blockade, but the USS "Minnesota" stopped her. Says his ship is a "contemptible little brig" in comparison to the "Minnesota" and the "Star." Reports that the "officers of the larger vessels kindly assure us we will certainly be taken first by the enemy." Continues letter on 22 May. Says he visited Fort Monroe and goes on to describe the compound. Says that "General Butler arrived here this morning and I understand the force here will be encreased to 12,000 men ... Governor Wise, said that Virginia must have fortress Monroe, if it cost them 10000 lives.; according to present appearances I think it likely to cost them ten times that number in vain." Continues letter to 23 May. Says the men are clamoring for a fight, especially the men who have been in the service for some time. Says he has been told to be cautious about describing his ship's whereabouts. |
Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Soldier's Pay Secession Confederate States of America Battle Artillery Global History and Civics Fortification Children and Family Blockade Union General |
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 | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
Civil War: Unit | USS "Perry" |