The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk
If you believe you should have access to this document, click here to Login.
Field name | Value |
---|---|
Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.73 |
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 Harriet Moore regarding surveying St Catherine's Bar and Farragut's recent victories around Mobile |
Date | 7 September 1864 |
Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
Recipient | Moore, Harriet |
Document Type | Correspondence |
Content Description | References her previous letter. Says he has been busy surveying St. Catherine's bar. Says he has found a channel. Praises Farragut's recent victories around Mobile. In reference to the 1864 presidential election says "I should certainly go for 'Old Abe.' He is not exactly the man I would choose, but he is an honest and patriotic man and the most decent of all of them ... Fremont I am afraid is nothing but a scheming politician, and as for McClellan I would rather go for Jeff Davis himself." Landing recently he "found things pretty much as we left them[.] The old darkies are flourishing and have laid in a large crop of corn during the summer." Makes reference to a court martial of an engineer that fell through. Says he has only had 10 days leave in 3 years, 4 months of service. |
Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Women's History Blockade Surveying Union General Battle Election Politics Government and Civics President Morality and Ethics Patriotism Confederate General or Leader Contrabands Slavery African American History Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Military Law |
People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Moore, Harriet (fl. 1864) |
Place written | Aboard USS "Fernandina" off St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia |
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 "Fernandina" |