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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.64 |
| 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 unknown describing a fight between three gunboats in Stono Inlet |
| Date | 23 April 1864 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Possibly an incomplete letter. Describes a fight that three gunboats had in Stono Inlet. Says the boats saw "a large party of contrabands whom a troop of cavalry were endeavoring to drive off. As the gunboats approached the slaves waded out as deep as they could, towards them and the cavalry commenced cutting and slashing away at them with their sabres." The gunboats fired a cannon and stopped the slaughter, taking in 70 blacks of both sexes and all ages. Describes a run-in with an ex-Congressman named Griswold and reports that "I dont think much of the intellect of South Carolinians, the ideas they seem to have of everybody from the north, are about what might be supposed to be held by the people of Japan previous to the treaty." Reports that the commodore has given them permission to enlist contrabands to act as firemen or "at any duty that requires exposure to the sun and heat. This is a capital move, both on account of the health of our men, and I think also, it is the best disposition to make of the darkies." Continues letter on 26 and 29 April. References the capture of several steamers by the blockade. Says he is on his way to Port Royal. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Women's History Cavalry Battle Contrabands African American History Slavery Weaponry Confederate States of America Runaway Slave Fugitive Slave Act Refugees Artillery Asia Treaty Diplomacy Congress Global History and Civics Health and Medical Blockade Steamboat |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Place written | s.l. |
| 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: Theater of War | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "New Ironsides" |