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to Lewis H. West

Document written in secretarial hand and signed by Captain Rowan of the USS "New Ironsides" to West as the commander of the USS "Ladona," ordering him to proceed at once to Port Royal, South Carolina to tow one of the ironsides to Charleston. Also...

GLC03836.49

to Lewis H. West

Document in secretarial hand and signed by Reynolds (the signature is sloppy and the spelling might be different) as "Commander & Senior Officer," possibly of a squadron of ships at Port Royal, written to Acting Master West as commander of the USS...

GLC03836.50

to R. West

Signed twice by West. Was given command of the "Ladona" 3 or 4 days previously, as Captain Calhoun was told to take command of the "Weehawken" very suddenly. Was happy for his captain's new opportunity, but sorry to see him leave the "Ladona." Says...

GLC03836.51

to R. West

Says he arrived at Charleston on 11 July and that the attack on the city started on the 10th. Reports Union forces have taken all of Morris Island except Fort Wagner. Describes the situation around Fort Wagner. Says the navy might have to land some...

GLC03836.52

to Mary West [incomplete]

Written by Lewis to his sister Mary. References receiving her and Weir's joint letter. Says he will "not be altogether satisfied" if Lee is allowed to escape across the Potomac. Wants to know who General Meade is. Hopes to add Charleston to the...

GLC03836.53

to Weir

Mentions that Weir had gout. Weir had sent West a letter relaying a gloomy political scene in the North, and West responds saying "having passed the largest part of my life afloat, I am not much of a judge of the political feelings of people at home...

GLC03836.54

to Weir

References Weir's letter of 24 July. Says he just arrived in Charleston from Bull's Bay and that he is going to Edisto to coal. His one month of command has ended as Acting Lieutenant Broadhead has taken over. He likes Broadhead, saying he is young...

GLC03836.55

to Lewis H. West

Written on stationary of the Commandant's Office of the Navy Yard at New York. Written in a secretarial hand and signed by Paulding. Tells Acting Master West to report without delay to the commanding officer of the USS "Paul Jones" for a passage to...

GLC03836.57

to R. West

Says he is on board the USS "New Ironsides." Says it will probably not be permanent as she has a full compliement of officers. Says a small vessel made an attempt to destroy their ship with a torpedo, but they only succeeded in destroying his own...

GLC03836.58

to R. West

Says he sailed on the USS "Paul Jones" and arrived in Charleston 4 days later. Was then sent to the USS "New Ironsides" for duty. Was about to be reassigned to a monitor when an unexpected torpedo attack from the torpedo boat CSS "David" wounded an...

GLC03836.59

to Mary West

References receiving her latest letter. Says "For the first time since I have been in the service I feel thoroughly discontented. I fancied in coming here I was at length going to see active service but find just the reverse." Says they witnessed the...

GLC03836.60

to Harriet Moore

References receiving her latest letter. Speaks cynically about the situation off the South Carolina coast, saying "It really seems as if there was a fatality about all our operations. here, every thing being put off too long. Everybody knows now that...

GLC03836.61

to Harriet Moore

References her letter of 14 March 1864. Says her opinion that he is "decidedly blue" is correct. Says it is depressing to have spent 3 years as he has at the age of 35. Speaks positively of the "change of feeling that has been wrought in public...

GLC03836.63

to unknown

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...

GLC03836.64

to Harriet Moore

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...

GLC03836.65

to his parents

Writes that he has just been paid twenty-six dollars. Has been ordered to March to Springfield tomorrow morning. His regiment is under command of Sigel. Asks his parents to collect a sixty-five dollar note he has if anything should happen to him....

GLC06728.012

to his parents

Describes the Battle of Pea Ridge. Writes that the enemy lost about half its men with three thousand killed and wounded. Also writes that guns, muskets, and rifles are found stacked in the woods from soldiers that won't fight anymore and have gone...

GLC06728.014

to his parents

Writes that he has not marched in ranks since the battle (Pea Ridge). Reports that an artillery lieutenant shot a Benton Hussar. The lieutenant was later struck on the head with a saber several times by another Benton Hussar and was almost killed....

GLC06728.015

to his parents

Writes that he is six miles east from Forsyth, Mo., guarding a mill. Complains that the weather has been miserable and is made worse by the fact that he is corporal of a guard for the day. Is expecting to move tomorrow, but is not sure where. Is...

GLC06728.016

to his parents

Writes that he has marched about one thousand miles since he left Rolla. He is expecting to move sometime soon, but does not know where. Verifies that there were about three thousand Indians at the battle (Pea Ridge), some of which were prisoners.

GLC06728.017

to Nathan [King]

Reports that the enemy has been cut off while on the Tombigbee River. Cannonading has been heard every day as well as prisoners taken in. Writes that rebel paper is pretty and that there is plenty available in the area. Also writes that the corn...

GLC06728.018

to his parents

Updates his father on the commanders of the regiment. Writes that General Asboth is the Brigadier General, Nicolas Grensel is the colonel and also a member of the Free Masons;. Lieutenant Colonel Joselyn and Major Barry have resigned and Capt. J.Q...

GLC06728.019

to his sister

Writes that there was a brush with secesh cavalry who charged into the 7th Kansas cavalry. Seventeen men were killed two of which belong to Weeks' regiment. Describes his experience in Arkansas so far and writes that he was almost hit by firing...

GLC06728.020

to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Weeks thanks his family for the food and updates them on cmp news. Describes the various foods he has consumed since he received his family's packages and writes that he's "grown fat since yesterday morning".

GLC07460.032

to William Henry

Henry writes to his cousin William from Merriden Hill, three miles outside Washington, D.C. Continues letter from Virginia on 28 September 1861. Mentions heavy rain and marching through knee-deep mud. Discusses marches and the men's health. Written...

GLC03523.07.01

to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp outside Chattanooga after a fierce battle with Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his troops for control of Chattanooga. Praises the bravery of the Union soldiers despite being outnumbered. Describes the...

GLC03523.03.13

to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister Eliza from camp in Chattanooga. Mentions a shortage of blankets. Encloses money for the family. Gives her an extensive list of food to send. States he has not seen younger brother Abe who is in "K" Co., Ohio 61st Infantry...

GLC03523.03.14

to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from camp in Moorefield, Virginia, informing him he is no longer at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio, guarding prisoners. Discusses the march to Moorefield. Mentions it has been raining for seven days. Letter is faded. Letter...

GLC03523.03.15

to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister from a camp near Stafford. Discusses picket duty. Mentions the surrender of Jackson, Mississippi, and comments the war will soon be over. Refers to a coward in his regiment who was willingly taken prisoner by the...

GLC03523.03.16

to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister from Warrington Junction. Complains of fatigue after marching for two months. Refers to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's communications being cut off from Richmond, Virginia. Comments "...that the report about Charlestwon...

GLC03523.03.17

unknown

Bope writes possibly to his sister Eliza, probably from a camp in Virginia. Comments on the "...plundering and destruction..." of Ohio by Confederate General John Morgan who was captured on 26 July 1863 and imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio. Expresses...

GLC03523.03.18

to John Sr. and Lydia Bope

Bope writes to his parents from Catlett's Station. Expects a big fight in or near Gordonsville, Virginia. Says Union General George Meade will be there soon. Comments that Confederate General Robert E. Lee has 80,000 men. Expresses confidence they...

GLC03523.03.19

to his brother

Bope writes to an unidentified brother from Bridgeport. Reports they are waiting for Confederate General John Morgan (possibly John Tyler Morgan) to arrive with four forces of artillery. Comments that the weather is warm and dry. Reports that they...

GLC03523.03.20

to John Sr. and Lydia Bope

Bope writes to his parents from a camp in Louisville. Discusses the trip from Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio. States he does not know how long they will stay before moving on to Alabama. Mentions the change in weather and how green the woods...

GLC03523.03.21

to Lydia Bope

Bope writes to his mother from camp in Chattanooga. Letter is faded and almost illegible. Mentions Union General William T. Sherman's position outside Atlanta. Refers to Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and John Hood.

GLC03523.03.22

to John Sr. and Lydia Bope

Bope writes to his parents from Goldsboro. Reports he has "... finished the gratest and the best campaign since the war." Informs they have marched through the entire state of South Carolina, burning houses. Discusses in detail the towns he passed...

GLC03523.03.23

to John S. Goold [incomplete]

Writes to his father from camp near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Thanks his mother and father for writing and for sending papers. Gives an update on his brother Theodore's health, which is improving, although his is still weak and in the hospital tent...

GLC03523.05.01

to William D. Goold

Describes sleeping conditions. Mentions that he has given his name for a pair of mittens, as winter is coming and the weather is getting very cold. Tells him that he has not heard from brother Theodore since they left Sharpsburg, Maryland. Describes...

GLC03523.05.02

to Abby Goold

Writes to his mother about all the letters he has recently received, including one from her, Aunt Jane, and Nellie. Describes his duties on provost guard and the differences between being on guard and in the regiments. Tells her of difficulties...

GLC03523.05.03

to John S. Goold

Writes to his father describing the beginning of the battle at Fredericksburg, 11-15 December 1862: "The first gun was fired about 5 o'clock A.M., and the firing was kept up with but little intermission until after dark. At times the firing was so...

GLC03523.05.04

to John S. Goold

Writes to his father "by candlelight" because he was so busy during the day and states "I don't like to spare time to write." Informs that he has just come off guard and that they are camped at same place they were before the Battle of Fredericksburg...

GLC03523.05.05

to John S. Goold

Writes to his father about guard duty and thinks that the worst part is how it disrupts sleep. Wishes he had more newspapers to read, although he is "very much obliged to you for sending me a box, whether it ever reaches me or not. I am much obliged...

GLC03523.05.06

to John S. Goold

Tells his father that he "is well at the present with the exception of a slight cold" and that he is standing guard in place of someone who is sick. He may get the job of carrying the mail, which he states "would be good exercise for me and make me...

GLC03523.05.07

to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister

Thanks his family for the food they sent him and requests that they send him some emery paper (for filing his gun), tea, and pepper. Reports that Rosecrans has taken five or six hundred rebel prisoners to Nashville. Writes that rebels planted two...

GLC07460.037

to unknown

Bope writes to a friend from the Battlefield of Camp Shiloh. Reports he survived the bloody Battle of Shiloh (6-7 April 1862) unharmed. Discusses the battle strategy in depth and the horror he felt: "...we had to step over the daed [sic] and...

GLC03523.03.05

to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from the Battlefield of Shiloh, near Pittsburg Landing. Reports that "...some 20,000 men buried who fell in this great battle...", and they expect another attack. Mentions Easter, and notes that the cost of eggs is 30 cents...

GLC03523.03.06

to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister from Camp Shiloh. States they have nothing to do, but expects to meet the Rebels in a few days. Mentions that 30 Rebels surrender every day. Complains that the apples she sent him did not arrive, but all her letters do...

GLC03523.03.07

to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister from a camp in Battle Creek. Inquires about drafting in Ohio and complains of being sick. States he does not want to be discharged due to his lame arm unless he becomes totally disabled. Reports the troops are happy with the...

GLC03523.03.08

to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp in Battle Creek. Reports they are waiting for more men to arrive and help guard the railroad. Informs him that a Lieutenant from the Rebel army deserted and stated the Confederate force in Chattanooga is 80,000...

GLC03523.03.09

to John Bope Sr.

Bope writes to his father from a camp outside of Green River. Says they will go to Nashville next. Mentions that many soldiers from the Ohio 49th Infantry have deserted. Comments that there has been no fighting for him since Shiloh. Doesn't know...

GLC03523.03.10