December 1864

Walker, T.A., fl. 1863-1865

Document signed

Title: [Abstract of monies received in the Freedmens Department during December for the Memphis Disctrict]

Walker signs as Captain in the 63rd U.S.C.T. and Superintendent of Freedmen, West Tennessee. Lists from whom, from what source, and the dollar amount of monies received.

GLC08649.04

31 May 1865

Blood, G. H., fl. 1865-1868

Printed document signed

Title: [Receipt for the purchase of a shovel and spade]

T. A. Walker, Captain in the 63rd U.S.C.T. and Superintendent of Freedmen, West Tennessee, pays $3.50 for the two items. G. H. Blood receipt, containing printed image of a stove surrounded by various pipes.

GLC08649.06

30 November 1865

Berger, Jacob B., 1830-?

Printed document signed

Title: [Invoice of clothing, camp, and garrison equipage turned over by Jacob Berger 2d Lieutenant, Company K, 63rd United States Colored Troops, and Assistant Quartermaster at De Valls Bluff]

Berger turns clothing, camp, and garrison equipage over to T. A. Walker, Captain of Company "B," 63rd U.S.C.T. Lists the number, type of article, and condition of items such as knapsacks, kettles, canteens, and hatchets.

GLC08649.07

22 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter

Title: to R. West [incomplete]

Says they arrived in the Navy Yard at Washington the night before after being towed up the Potomac River. As they came up the river they heard "furious cannonading which never ceased until after our arrival at the city and learned that a desperate battle was going on at Bull's Run about 30 miles distant." Says they suddenly received an order from Captain Dahlgren to get underway at once and proceed to Alexandria. A steamer was pulling the brig as fast as it could and they speculated that the army lost and that they were needed to protect the town from a Confederate attack or to keep it "being…

GLC03836.10

24 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says little has happened and they remain anchored at Alexandria. Says they were told to wait in readiness to man the town's batteries last night, but nothing came of it. Says the USS "Pawnee" is docked next to them. Went on shore and describes the town and the defeated soldiers from Bull Run. Has heard that no forward movement has been made by the enemy. Says "Last night and this morning they were reconnoitering from Washington in a balloon, and this morning it passed over Alexandria and descended just outside the town." Blasts the newspapers that were clamoring for the North to end their…

GLC03836.12

23 April 1861

Glapson, John J., fl. 1861

Autograph document signed

Title: to Lewis West

Written by Commander Glapson of the U.S. Brig "Perry" to West. Co-signed by the Lieutenant and commanding officer of the "Perry," whose signature is illegible. Document appointing West as Master's Mate aboard the "Perry."

GLC03836.04

12 May 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Tells his mother that he is sailing for the Chesapeake tomorrow. Says they have an entirely new complement of officers on his ship, except for him. Says the changes are for the better. The captain is from New Hampshire and is "sound on the goose question." Says he will write when they get to the seat of war "where I believe every body belonging to the brig is anxious to get, to relieve the monotony of our lives, which is perfectly disgusting in such stirring times as these." Hopes to "do my share of maintaining the honor of the flag."

GLC03836.05

21 May 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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") and goes on to describe the firefight. Six shots hit the ship, but no one was hurt. Says an English ship tried to pass through the blockade, but the USS "Minnesota" stopped her. Says his ship is a "contemptible little brig" in comparison to the "Minnesota" and the "Star." Reports that the "officers of the larger vessels kindly assure us we will…

GLC03836.06

3 June 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 of the St. Mary River in Florida. Speaks poorly of his captain, who "acted as if he was totally ignorant of the existence of such a thing as the Gulf Stream." Says they captured a ship with a cargo of cotton a few days before. Continues the letter on 4 June. Says the "Perry" captured its first privateer yesterday. Describes the 5 hour chase. The…

GLC03836.07

8 June 1861-16 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter

Title: 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 destination of the boundary between Georgia and Florida. Says their departure from Charleston was sudden and was not able to tell her that he was put in charge of the privateer that was captured a week earlier. Was overhauling her and found the signal book, which gave them the ability to read Confederate signals from the shore. Tried to trick another…

GLC03836.08

16 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 established of the St. Mary's river was nothing but a ridiculous farce, had there been any vessels in there they could have got out at any time." Says this was partially because of their captain "having the most extraordinary ideas of blockading ever heard of." Goes on to say "he was afraid of being becalmed inshore and having a steamer come out to attack…

GLC03836.09

23 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says the news about the Battle of Bull Run has been confirmed, "Our army has suffered a most shameful and bloody defeat." Says all the fugitives streamed into Alexandria and "at one time it was thought it would be expedient to set fire to the buildings containing government stores at this place." Was glad it did not come to that. Reports that "The troops as they came in, although entirely disorganized did not appear to be so much panic stricken, as dejected and ashamed. All who have come into this place have their arms with them." Believes it will come to light that the defeat was caused by…

GLC03836.11

February 5, 1864

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Editor of the Tribune

Complains that the Tribune misused a statement made by him to Wendell Phillips at the recent meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. The statement concerned John C. Fremont, who was active in the Radical Republicans, a group of hard-line abolitionists upset with Lincoln's position toward slavery. Demands that the Tribune insert a correction and print what was said as per the official report of the proceedings of the Society. Signed on first page but one line written on verso, "Mr. Garrison said - I wish to propose, &c."

GLC07483.06

29 July 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says the scattered troops have been reorganized. Reports on conditions in town saying "I took a party of seamen on Saturday night as a reinforcement for those already in the trenches, and was painfully struck by the appearance of things in general. Not a soul was to be seen in the streets except soldiers, some of them off duty, lounging about, or drunk, and ready for any outrage." Says their naval brigade has done good work. Says they are led by a Lieutenant Parker, "who is true blue, although he has a brother on the secession side. How do you get on with all our secessionist connections, I…

GLC03836.13

8 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Received 2 letters from his mother and four from his sister Mary. Says he went up to Washington and got the box sent to him. Says Captain Parrott left and has been replaced with Captain Haggerty. Has not been able to form an opinion on his character. Also says their first lieutenant has left and their second lieutenant, Miller, has replaced him. Says the entrenchments in town are getting along well and that they are called Fort Dahlgren. Says "I am getting very impatient at our present occupation, which consists of doing nothing at all, just lying at anchor and looking at the town, and this…

GLC03836.14

26 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Tells his mother that he received an appointment as Acting Master in the U.S. Navy. Says he is now detached from the USS "Perry" and has been ordered to report to Flag Officer Stringham at Hampton Roads for duty on the USS "Wabash." Took the oath of allegience that morning and will start for Hampton Roads tomorrow. Says the "Wabash" is going to sea immediately with the "Minnesota" and the "Pawnee." Is afraid that he might not get there before the "Wabash" leaves because of "red tapeism."

GLC03836.18

23 August 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter signed

Title: to Lewis West

Two official orders on one page. First one signed by Secretary of the Navy Welles. Co-signed by Captain Samuel Mercer and Commander A.S. Glipan. Says he has been appointed as Acting Master. Tells him to proceed to Hampton Roads to meet with Flag Officer Stringham for duty on the USS "Wabash." Marked that he reported on 3 October 1861. Second a note in a secretarial hand and signed by Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham (1798 - 1876) and dated 7 September 1861. Stringham was commander of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Stringham ordered him to take the USS "Flag" down to Charleston and report to…

GLC03836.19

17 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Is at Hampton Roads for repairs. Gives an account of the collision. When on board the USS "Flag," he noticed the ship was not well disciplined. Describes the crew. Goes on to describe in detail how the frigate USS "Susquehanna" and the "Flag" came to collide. Says the "Flag" sustained damage to the "upper works" and "was in no danger, her elongated bow and cutwater having acted as a fender for her timbers and planking." Sums the situation up by saying "The rule for two steamers meeting to avoid collision is perfectly clear and simple, viz, both ships put their helms aport, the effect of…

GLC03836.22

20 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says there has been a major shuffling of commands. Commodore Stringham and Captains Nicholson of the USS "Roanoke," Mercer of the USS "Wabash," and Hull of the "Savannah," have all been detached. Says Goldsborough is to become flag officer and that the captains have been detached because they are all senior to him. Is happy that the navy is being innovative and taking on the "old officers." Says the blockade has been very inefficient up to this point. Says "Goldsborough is considered about the best officer in the service, among naval officers, and is said to be a man of great energy."…

GLC03836.23

19 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Written aboard the USS "Alabama." Encloses a one-page hand-drawn chart of the 7 November 1861 naval battle at Port Royal Harbor, which he had copied by "placing a sheet of thin paper" over the original. Reports that the original chart had been made by one of the officers of the 'Susquehanna' and was "said to be very accurate." Says he is at Charleston and that they are still blockading "this nest of secession." Duty has been dull; since "the stunning blow inflicted on them [Confederates in the area] by Dupont's splendid victory. We have seen no sign of the small steamers which were in the…

GLC03836.27

13 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 sea, as many of the crew are still serving at Fort Dahlgren. Says he likes the new captain and that "I begin to hope, that we have at last got the right man in the right place since McClellan has taken command; nobody knows what he is about, or how many troops he has here." Says the Fire Zouaves are going home and hopes they stay there "for a more…

GLC03836.15

17 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 commander to become captain, as their last 2 were in the service for 30 years before taking command. Says it "is a ruinous system truly, where [a] man loses the most energetic part of his life in subordinate positions, before he can command even a little vessel like this." Says the blockade is ineffective. Claims the commerce of the South to be shut down…

GLC03836.16

18 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 obedience to orders is a great military virtue, the men, doubtless with the utmost philanthropy towards the people, proceeded to select their targets among the various church steeples, buildings &c." Says half his crew of his brig is on shore manning guns. Says that the ship is not sent to sea because the commander does not like the vessel and "…

GLC03836.17

29 August 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 he could. Says he must wait for the commodore to return, but to be ready for any special service he might be wanted for. Says he is now staying in the lighthouse close to fort and is comfortable with nothing to do. Second page has a quick note about procuring envelopes and stamps in a different hand and appears to be written by his sister Mary.

GLC03836.20

6 September 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says he is still waiting for his ship to arrive. Describes the people he has met at the fort. References General John Wool -- "Old Wool" -- who works the troops in reviews and drills. Says "I never saw a more beautiful sight than a review of the 4th artillery (regulars) that we had the other day. I only wish that we had a hundred thousand such troops." Tells the story of a captain who took his ship oystering and was fired upon by Union pickets when he tried to return. The captain was so angry that he declared "Nothing would satisfy him but that an equal number of them should get into the…

GLC03836.21