22 October 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Heard rumors of a Confederate attack at Newport News. Says a man fell over 100 feet while working on the sails during a recent gale. Says he is in command of a "fine rifled twelve pounder." Written was aboard the USS "Wabash"

GLC03836.24

25 October 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 into another." Says the top officers had a "pow wow" on board the "Wabash" last night, no doubt discussing their plans for the upcoming mission. Written while aboard the USS "Alabama".

GLC03836.25

5 November 1861

West, Lewis H., 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 troubles. Thinks the fleet that amassed in Hampton Roads is heading to Port Royal. Says Charleston is greatly effected by the presence of Union ships. Reports that "Some fugitive slaves who came off in the night, report that they had been employed throwing up entrenchments at Port Royal but had been obliged to leave as they were discovered by the…

GLC03836.26

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

20 January 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

25 February 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

23 December 1822

Beal, Thomas P., 1786-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Expresses support for John Quincy Adams but questions the abilities of "The General." Most likely refering to John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Defends Adams as "a statesman," details his experience, and says "The General" is "a shabby auxiliary."

GLC06313.04.210

24 December 1822

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Thanking Hobart for forwarding documents to them from Congress, and requesting any further communication Hobart can provide.

GLC06313.04.211

28 December 1822

Howe, John, 1783-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Believes his "object...will be obtained" and discusses a possible nomination. Discusses his father's revolutionary war service. In his postscript requests that Hobart puts his name foward for nomination by the President to the Senate.

GLC06313.04.212

31 December 1822

Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses which route the mail should be carried over, and states most of the public support a specific route. Measures from Congress regarding suppresion of piracy also meet the approval of the public.

GLC06313.04.213

1822

Quincy, Josiah, 1772-1864

Pamphlet signed

Title: Remarks on some of the provisions of the laws of Massachusetts, affecting poverty, vice and crime

Contains Quincy's thoughts on the relation between poverty, crime and vice, and how society should deal with them. Printed by "Hilliard & Metcalf." Signed by Quincy on the front cover.

GLC06313.04.214

7 January 1823

Hayward, Elijah, 1786-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discussing the debates in the press between Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams, and offering to send Hobart issues of the "National Republican" a Cincinatti newspaper. Believes Clay must respond to Adams forceful challenge. Hayward was a strong supporter of Adams, and was trying to win Hobart's help in securing Adam's favors for his clients, Looker and Reynolds, the publishers of the "New Republic."

GLC06313.04.215

7 January 1823

Jones, Alex, fl. 1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Requesting Hobart's help in appointing John Howe as "collector for the port of Bristol and Warren.

GLC06313.04.216

9 January 1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Asking Hobart to pettition Congress to create a new postal route in his village. Says the route is badly needed, and that the lack of a route causes great inconvenience.

GLC06313.04.217

12 January 1823

Hayward, Elijah, 1786-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

GLC06313.04.218

10 February 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Will send his parents forty dollars to spend.

GLC06728.012

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

11 April 1862

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Writes that he has been appointed 3rd corporal.

GLC06728.015

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

22 May [1862]

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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