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to his family

Writes of the steamer trip to Norfolk to acquire more coal. Mentions being able to see the wrecks of the Cumberland and the Congress from where the Regiment is camped. Also writes of what a fine city Norfolk is.

GLC03603.124

to his family

The regiment has received orders to cook three days rations and prepare to leave for Fortress Monroe. Believes that this is connected to "the raid of rebel rams at Charleston & the temporary raising of a blockade" and that they may in fact be headed...

GLC03603.188

to R. West

Sent 340 dollars in gold to his father's address. Says the USS "Flag" arrived with news that the Confederates fled St. John's on the approach of gunboats. Mentions the destruction of the USS "Cumberland" and "Congress," by the CSS "Merrimack." Says...

GLC03836.32

to R. West

Says they arrived at Port Royal towing the ironclad "Weehawken" after a stormy passage. Describes sailing in the storm in detail. They wanted to cut the "Weehawken" loose, but no one could get on her deck to release the chain. Updates her on recent...

GLC03836.42

to R. West

Signed twice by West. Says his destination has been changed from Key West to Bull's Bay, 12 miles north of Charleston. Says the damage to the "Weehawken" did not occur from the stormy voyage, but from "treachery at home." Mechanics took her machinery...

GLC03836.43

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 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 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 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 Lewis H. West

Written in secretarial hand and signed by Commodore Rowan as commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Orders Acting Master West from the USS "New Ironsides" to the USS "Fernandina." Tells him to report to Commander William Reynolds, the...

GLC03836.66

to R. West

Has been busy surveying St. Catherine's bar, which has been little explored. Describes what he discovered while surveying. Says he discovered a channel into the harbor, so he can quickly secure his ship now. Praises Farragut's actions at Mobile...

GLC03836.72

to Caroline Flagg Foote

Written by Foote as commander of the Mississippi River Squadron to his wife. Written from Island No. 10, the day after Foote's Squadron captured it. Says he can barely lift his pen to write after the recent fight and the "intense mental anxiety for...

GLC03910

"No. 2."

View of the Iron Clad Battery at Morris Island from the rear.

GLC03919.01

Monitors on the James River with ALS to Hallie Mayers from "Joe" and album

Albumen print of monitors on the James River and an accompanying letter. ALS measures 20.2 x 12.5 cm.

GLC04938

to Ira Harris

General Seymour writes to Harris, a United States Senator from South Carolina. Replies to Harris's question regarding what the Union can do to engage and defeat Charleston. States "It all is comprised in a single word- Nothing. Expectations of...

GLC05050

to Captain Aulich

Acts as a referral for the son of Captain Angus, a youth aboard the U.S.S. Potomac, to which Aulich was captain. Criticizes Great Britain for its predatory practices in the Oregon Territory. In his postscript, Cooper requests information on Old...

GLC05083

Pontoon bridge across James River

A print of a photograph of boats in a river. Over a dozen boats can be seen. The titular pontoon bridge can be seen stretching across the horizon. Penciled below the image is: "Pontoon bridge across the James River over which the army of the Potomac...

GLC05111.01.0076

[Monitor Sangus, gunboat Saginaw in deep James River, VA]

One photograph of a gunboat known as the Monitor Sangus dated 1864. Taken by Egbert Guy Fowx. The title is taken from the inscription on the recto. The image shows "Saginaw," a Federal steamer, and "Sangus," a monitor [ironclad], on the James River...

GLC05111.01.0077

[Ironclad USS Louisville outside Vicksburg]

A print of a photograph of the USS Louisville, a City-class ironclad gunboat laid down in September of 1861. Many sailors and/or officers can be see standing on the deck, the Louisville had a crew of 251. Inscription on recto: "Louisville iron clad...

GLC05111.01.0094

to Louise Walbridge

Provides a description of the attack on the "New Ironsides" by the Confederate torpedo boat "David." "The rebels came down the harbor in a small cigar shaped steamer... She lay off some distance from the Ironsides and sent a small boat with a...

GLC04663.25

[Thanks to officers & men for gallant conduct in battle of Mobile Bay]

Draft of General Order # 12 signed by Rear Admiral Farragut. Thanks the crews of the ships that fought in the battle for Mobile Bay "for their gallant conduct during the fight." Lauds their lack of hesitation, even when they were asked "to follow...

GLC04664.01

[General order requesting fleet to thank God for victory]

A clerical copy of the General Order issued by Farragut on 7 August 1864. The order asks the fleet to give thanks to God for their victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

GLC04664.02