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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.44 |
| 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 Weir pessimistic about the future due to poor leadership |
| Date | 12 March 1863 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | Weir |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | References Weir's poor health. Says "The only difference between the blockade here now, and last year is, that if possible it is more inefficient than it was. It seems to me that the slowest ships and the thickest headed commanding officers are always specially selected for duty." Is pessimistic about the future because of the leadership of Hunter and Turner specifically. Says there have been recent changes in their blockading system due to intelligence of the many ships reaching Nassau from Charleston, but he doubts they will amount to much. Says his captain is energetic and vigilant. Says he saw him spend "Hour after hour, sometimes the entire night when the weather was such as to favor blockade runners, have I seen him spend on deck sweeping the horizon with his glass." Says his captain is not as successful because he has a slow ship and has to deal with red tape. Tells of some incidents of recent attempts to run the blockade by Confederate ships. Continues letter on 15 March. Has heard Congress passed the conscription bill and says "There will be some 'skedadling' now among some of the 'peace democrats.'" Disparages "gentlemen," who thought the army or the navy would be more comfortable than it really is. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Blockade Health and Medical Union General Caribbean Confederate States of America Congress Conscription Peace Politics Democratic Party |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Place written | Aboard the USS "Ladona" off Charleston, South Carolina |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Naval & Maritime; Government & Politics |
| 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: Theater of War | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "Ladona" |