West, Lewis H., 1829-? to Weir
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.17 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H., 1829-? Place Written: Alexandria, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 August 1861 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Height: 24.8 cm, Width: 19.6 cm Order a Copy
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 "instead of doing his duty, by accepting the charge and working to the utmost to make her a smart vessel, passes time in writing to a secretary to be transfererd to a more "efficient' vessel." Goes on to praise the brig as a good ship. Says he will be happy when the Union Army has a victory and tell him in the meantime "Why dont you relieve yourself in New York, by choking a few editors, the Daily News, Daybook, and Journal of Commerce for example." Says there are rumors of an impending attack on Alexandria. Despairs about recruitment and says "I begin to think that the South was right in styling us a 'nation of shopkeepers.'"
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