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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.78 |
| 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 Mary West reporting that he views himself as a radical abolitionist |
| Date | 17 November 1864 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | West, Mary |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | References her letter of 17 October. Says he is taking an interest in the election and says "In fact it is the only election that I ever did take any interest in ... since I have turned my attention to politics I am amazed that I was ever anything but a radical abolitionist and it is astonishing how anybody can be anything else, after the charming results of having persisted in sacrificing the right to the expedient for the last 30 years, on the slavery question." Says New York is the only state to give ballots for sailors and that he heard McClellan has a 10 or 11 more votes than Lincoln in the squadron. Says if the entire squadron could vote that there would be a "large majority for Lincoln." Thanks her for sending the political pamphlets, but says they were "scarcely needed" as most of the crew is from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Says he did not say a word to influence any vote, as it could be considered subversive of discipline but that "It is worthy of remark that everybody that I had found it necessary to punish frequently voted for McClellan." Says he heard from the rebels that Lincoln won, but has not received official word. Tells of a prayer "offered by one of the old darkies ... He prayed that Lincoln might be elected for their children's sake." Says the former slave prayed that their old master might be restored to them and live out the end of his days with them - this despite their old master taking all their children and grandchildren with him. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Politics Government and Civics President Election African American History Abolition Slavery Morality and Ethics Union General Suffrage Confederate States of America Contrabands Children and Family Democratic Party Religion |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Place written | Aboard USS "Fernandina" at St. Catherine's, Georgia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Naval & Maritime; African Americans; Slavery & Abolition; 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: Recipient Relationship | Sister |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "Fernandina" |