4 December 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 Carolina and that "the niggers being lords of the land. They have availed themselves of the opportunity to sell to the invaders large quantities of beer, mutton and vegetables, the ownership of which nobody troubles themselves to inquire about." Says he gave some money to one of the former slaves and he remarked that he would probably give it to…

GLC03836.28

21 December 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says he started down for Fernandine. Says they previously boarded an English ship loaded with salt heading for New Brunswick. The ship had a letter stating that it should try to get to Savannah, Georgia if possible, but to go to New Brunswick otherwise. They thought it was a weak ruse to avoid the blockade and they towed the ship into Port Royal. Says they captured a ship ladened with provisions after it ran ashore on the beach. Describes the capture and eventual burning of the ship in detail. Says he was able to get some coffee and a new pair of shoes and that 12,000 cigars were captured.…

GLC03836.29

January 20, 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 run out of the harbor, but makes running in hard. Says 2 nights ago a boat with 3 contrabands came to their ship. Says 1 of the 3 was very intelligent and gave them valuable information about the harbor, as he had been in a pilot boat. Describes their escape. Says one was "a full blooded darky," another "a mulatto," and the other "so nearly white…

GLC03836.30

February 25, 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 men and that Nashville is lost. Mentions news of the Confederate draft. Says the South "appear[s] to have woke up at last to the magnitude of the contest they have provoked." Says the entire squadron has received orders that they must cease writing about their future movements in letters. Written while aboard the USS "Alabama".

GLC03836.31

13 March 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 everyone predicted the result and that it was a topic of discussion for the last 6 months. Says the Secretary of the Navy or the flag officer of their fleet are "drivelling idiots." Says the arrival of the USS "Monitor" was providential. Reports that the army is at last on the move.

GLC03836.32

23 March 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 Burnside's recent advances.

GLC03836.33

25 March 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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, killing several officers and wounding the rest. Written while aboard the USS "Alabama"

GLC03836.34

13 May 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 captured Confederate blockade runner while his ship was recoaling. Talks for 2 pages on General McClellan, mostly in a positive vein. Says the politicians and "crazy abolitionists of the Horace Greely school" are the only ones against him. Mentions General David Hunter and says "He has issued a proclamation recently, freeing all the slaves in South…

GLC03836.35

9 July 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 not have time to fill in the details of why. Has received newspaper accounts from Richmond and says Stonewall Jackson is the best general the war has produced so far. Says General Hunter is to go North to reinforce McClellan and wishes it would have taken place earlier, as some good units were wasted in an attack on James Island. Part of the…

GLC03836.36

26 August 1862

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 the ship. Says he is at St. Andrews Sound because the "Alabama" has been under steam for over a year and cannot be trusted to make the trip north to be overhauled. Therefore they are waiting in Georgia for the machinery to come to them. Says the repairs are needed as dry rot is everywhere. At St. Simons three weeks before he "had the pleasure of a…

GLC03836.37

31 October 1862

Paulding, Hiram, 1797-1878

Letter signed

Title: 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 to Philadelphia. Docket signed by G. J. Pendergrast says West reported for duty on 1 November 1862. Pendergrast died of a paralytic stroke on 7 November 1862.

GLC03836.38

31 October 1862

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: 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. Stribling, tells West to report to Commander Rolando. Docket signed by Commanders Paulding and Rolando says West reported on 5 November.

GLC03836.39

January 17, 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 been critical of some of the younger officers. Reports that they "Neither like me very well and I think they will like me still less as they get better acquainted." Says his ship will soon leave Newport News for Port Royal to join DuPont's fleet. Says the ship is "wretchedly out of stern," which has been slowing her down. Says it occurred when the…

GLC03836.40

January 23, 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 for Confederate riverboats and that they announced an attack the night before. There was great confusion when the ships deployed to defend against the attack because of a night fog. Nothing came of the supposed attack. Goes on to describe the Norfolk navy yard in detail, saying it was "a scene of utter ruin and desolation." Says the hull of the USS…

GLC03836.41

February 5, 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 blockading news around South Carolina. Continues letter on 6 February. Has just been told to have any letters to him directed to Key West, Florida. Says the "Weehawken," has sustained more damage than expected.

GLC03836.42

9 February 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 apart and found 50 pounds of iron bolts and old pieces of iron between the cylinder head and the piston. Says "Somebody's neck deserves stretching." Continues letter on 12 February, saying he is at Charleston assisting with the blockade. Says they might be going to Key West soon. Says he is very impressed with the armor of the Monitors.

GLC03836.43

12 March 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Weir

References Weir's poor health. Says "The only difference between the blockade here now, and last year is, that if possible it is more inefficient than it was. It seems to me that the slowest ships and the thickest headed commanding officers are always specially selected for duty." Is pessimistic about the future because of the leadership of Hunter and Turner specifically. Says there have been recent changes in their blockading system due to intelligence of the many ships reaching Nassau from Charleston, but he doubts they will amount to much. Says his captain is energetic and vigilant. Says…

GLC03836.44

22 March 1863

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. West

Says nothing has occurred since his last letter. Reports that the Confederates are improving their defenses to the harbor. Says "By the time they have completed their last battery, I presume there will be no longer any reasonable excuse for delaying the attack." Says they captured a small ship that had lost its way and drifted out to sea. Says he was able to speak to the captured sergeant and 8 privates. Written while aboard the USS "Ladona"

GLC03836.45

10 March 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents

Reports that he has survived the battle (most likely the battle of Pea Ridge, fought on March 7th). Writes that it's been reported that Ben McCullough was killed by someone in Weeks' regiment. The battle lasted three days of which the last two were particularly severe.

GLC06728.013

17 March 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 home. Written at Camp Shearer.

GLC06728.014

20 April 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 glad to hear of so many victories in the Eastern department. Writes that if Memphis is taken, the Confederacy will be crushed.

GLC06728.016

3 June 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 is about two feet high and the wheat is ripe. The letter includes a note from King to Weeks' father.

GLC06728.018

August 1, 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Adams (also a Mason) is very sick. Complains that the quality of clothes they are receiving is not as good as before. Would like to see his family but has a "good a will as ever to obliterate rebellion". Writes that he is in favor of the confiscation and emancipation bill if colonization is strictly attended to. Reports that a Negro was…

GLC06728.019

6 September 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 enemies. Hopes that he will be home before the next fourth of July. Inquires about the Masons.

GLC06728.020

19 October 1861

Bope, Conrad, 1839-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Jane Bope

Bope writes to his sister reporting that brother John is well. Complains about the continuous rain and states that one of their men was shot. Writes about the rebels destroying a bridge over Green River. Comments that they are waiting for artillery: "...we have only 16 or 20 big guns here..." Asks her to use pen in future letters because pencil is hard to read. Complains that postage stamps are scarcer than money. Envelope has image of William G. Brownlow.

GLC03523.03.01