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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03836.65 |
| From Archive Folder | Correspondence of 90 letters and documents with 3 maps on the blockade of Port Royal, South Carolina |
| Title | Lewis to Harriet Moore saying that if Charleston is ever taken, he hopes it will be by a black regiment |
| Date | 24 April 1864 |
| Author | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) |
| Recipient | Moore, Harriet |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | References her previous letter. A playful letter in response to Harriet's account of a fair at home. Says their boring existence continues and that the only distraction is going fishing 7 or 8 miles outside of Charleston. Says that "The white troops are all leaving this department and their places are being filled with the black regiments. I only hope if Charleston is ever taken that a black Massachusetts regiment may be the first one to march in and take possession." Says he has been hearing news of an impending battle in Virginia. Tells the story of a man who the Union Army allowed to remain in his house because he declared to be for the Union. Turns out the man and his two daughters were spies and were run out of the area. Written on letterhead of the USS "New Ironsides." |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Navy Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Entertaining and Hospitality Women's History Sports and Games African American History African American Troops Battle Spying Charity and Philanthropy |
| People | West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Moore, Harriet (fl. 1864) |
| Place written | Aboard USS "New Ironsides" off Charleston, South Carolina |
| 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" |