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to R. West

Says they were supposed to leave earlier, but had to wait for the paymaster. They might leave tomorrow. Says the "secessionists" got some batteries up on both sides of the river and fired on the "Monticello" (West says she was also called the "Star")...

GLC03836.06

to R. West

Says nothing has happened recently except coming across a vessel from Bremen, Germany that was bound for Charleston. The "Minnesota" ordered it off and sent it to Baltimore. It is understood that they will be stationed off Fernandina, near the mouth...

GLC03836.07

to R. West

Letter begins on 8 June at sea and continues on 17 June (he writes July 17, but that is impossible) at Fernandina, Florida; 27 June; 8 July; and 16 July at Hampton Roads, Virginia. On 8 June says he is 30 miles south of Savannah and near their...

GLC03836.08

to R. West

Signed twice by West. A follow up letter to GLC03836.08. Says his ship will resupply at Hampton Roads and then cruise between there and Cape Hatteras. Hopes that "we shall do our duty more efficiently than we have so far, as the blockade we...

GLC03836.09

to R. West

References her letter of 9 August. Also received a letter from Hill from 9 August. Sent documents to Jim Roosevelt (a merchant who employed West before the war) that Hill requested to be sent. Says there is no set timeframe for his ship going out to...

GLC03836.15

to R. West

Says their commander will be changed again. Says his ship has had 4 captains since he has been assigned to her. Reports that their first lieutenant will not leave as he is very young, but that he has improved discipline greatly. Wants a young...

GLC03836.16

to Weir

Says he has little to tell him. Relates to him how he ended up in Alexandria in the aftermath of Bull Run. Says "I could not help thinking that if I was an inhabitant, I should prefer having an enemy to a friend to do the protecting; however as...

GLC03836.17

to R. West

Arrived at Fortress Monroe in the morning and discovered "to my disgust" that his expedition has already sailed. Reported to Captain Gleason of the USS "Mount Vernon" as the senior commander at the fort and was told he had to find quarters wherever...

GLC03836.20

to R. West

Says they are going at least as far south as Charleston, as they will be dropping off officers there. Has heard they might attack Charleston and claims 18 transport ships will be joining them down to South Carolina, enough to hold 25,000 troops...

GLC03836.24

to R. West

Says he was detached from the USS "Wabash," and ordered to take the place of a sick officer on the USS "Alabama." Claims "It is extremely irritating to be shifted about in this way, just as I get accustomed to one ship to be unceremoniously bundled...

GLC03836.25

to R. West

Sent this letter by a prize they took that morning. The prize was being sent back to Hampton Roads. Several hours after reporting for duty on the USS "Alabama," he was sent to Charleston to relieve the USS "Susquehanna," which was having engine...

GLC03836.26

to R. West

References his mother's letter of 26 November. Says the Confederates are trying to avoid the blockade by stopping in Nassau and transferring their cargo to smaller ships to slip past the Union Navy. Says the Union controls the sea islands off South...

GLC03836.28

to R. West

References his mother and sister's letters of 19 and 20 December and another from 6 January. Mentions remembering his father riding on a pig's back down Seventh Street along the Schuylkill River. Says the fog has been bad lately, which helps ships...

GLC03836.30

to R. West

Says they are still waiting at Warsaw Sound. After the arrival of a refugee from Savannah, they received newspapers from both Savannah and Charleston giving accounts of Buell's successes in the West. The newspapers state the Confederates lost 10,000...

GLC03836.31

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 had an easy run from Baltimore to Port Royal. Reports that St. John's, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine are under Union control. Says the army is afraid of Confederate attacks around Port Royal and has requested more vessels. Praises...

GLC03836.33

to R. West

Says he just arrived in St. Augustine from Mosquito Inlet and that he will sail for Port Royal within the hour. Reports that just before they arrived at Mosquito Inlet, several ships that went upriver to attack a Confederate fort were ambushed...

GLC03836.34

to Weir

References his friend's letter of 3 April. References Farragut and Porter's running of the forts below New Orleans. Tells the story of a ship that snuck past him. Tells of other run-ins while on blockading duty. Relates a conversation he had with a...

GLC03836.35

to R. West

Says a new lieutenant arrived on his ship and that he is now again a watch officer. Says he did not want to be an executive officer, but once he had the position it was difficult to give it back. Has applied to be ordered to another vessel, but does...

GLC03836.36

to Mary West

Written by Lewis to his sister Mary. Continues the letter on 30 August and 5 September. Disparages where he is stationed, saying it is desolate and lacks civilized life. Says he has been made an executive officer again, due to personnel changes on...

GLC03836.37

to Lewis West

Commodore Paulding orders Acting Master West to go to Philadelphia without delay and report to Commodore Pendergrast for duty aboard the USS "Juniata." Note signed by Navy Agent James S. Chambers says West was paid 9 dollars for travel from New York...

GLC03836.38

to Lewis West

Printed Navy Department document orders West to proceed to Philadelphia without delay and report to Commodore Pendergrast for duty on the USS "Ladona." Signed by Welles as Secretary of the Navy. Note on bottom of document, signed by Commander C.H...

GLC03836.39

to R. West

Rumors abound of a Confederate attack on Newport News by Longstreet's Corps and riverboats. Says the "Galena," "Patapsco," "Minnesota," "Pawnee," "Ladona," "Commodore Morris," and "Commodore Perry," are present. Says things are in order, but he has...

GLC03836.40

to R. West

References his mother's letter of 20 January. Says they are waiting in Newport News under sailing orders, which means they could leave at any minute or sit for an indefinite period. Says the tugboats are sent 8 or 9 miles upriver to keep a lookout...

GLC03836.41

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