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Collection Reference Number GLC03836.16
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 past and future captains of his ship
Date 17 August 1861
Author West, Lewis H. (b. 1829)  
Recipient West, R  
Document Type Correspondence
Content Description Says their commander will be changed again. Says his ship has had 4 captains since he has been assigned to her. Reports that their first lieutenant will not leave as he is very young, but that he has improved discipline greatly. Wants a young commander to become captain, as their last 2 were in the service for 30 years before taking command. Says it "is a ruinous system truly, where [a] man loses the most energetic part of his life in subordinate positions, before he can command even a little vessel like this." Says the blockade is ineffective. Claims the commerce of the South to be shut down, but that privateers come and go as they please. Blames officers for the situation and claims the navy "will probably have very different notions about duty before this war is over." Reports that the government is relying on merchant marine men to fill the officers corps. Mentions the sad loss of General Lyon in Missouri. Mentions McClellan's address to "the mutinous 79th." Expresses anger at the secessionists who are allowed to advocate their cause behind Union lines.
Subjects Civil War  Military History  Navy  Union Forces  Union Soldier's Letter  Soldier's Letter  Blockade  Privateering  Confederate States of America  Commerce  Merchants and Trade  Marines  Death  Secession  Politics  Mutiny  Union General  Battle  
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"