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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.79 |
| 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 reporting that he heard from South Carolina deserters |
| Date | 25 November 1864 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | Moore, Harriet |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written aboard USS "Fernandina." References her letter of 5 November, noting that it was the first definite news of the election they received, and the first information from the North. Says he heard from two South Carolina deserters that Lincoln won. Writes, "Wasn't it a glorious result! and Pennsylvania redeemed herself too! ... What will become of 'Little Mac' now I wonder? He must feel considerably 'littler' than he ever did before." Declares that the administration has made blunders, but that they have been vindicated for removing "such wretched trash" as McClellan, Buell, and Fitz-John Porter. Writes that he would like some reading to make him laugh. Says he has been busy searching for a small sloop that he heard was trying to run the blockade with 10 bales of cotton. Mentions that he has little to do and must keep his distance from his men socially and hopes the war ends soon. Says the South "is a country neither fit to live in, or to die in, and that renders the obstinacy of it's people the more aggravating." |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Blockade Women's History Election Politics Government and Civics President Desertion Union General Democratic Party Lincoln's Cabinet Literature and Language Arts Humor and Satire Confederate States of America Cotton |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Moore, Harriet (fl. 1864) |
| Place written | St. Catherine's, 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" |