West, Lewis H., 1829-? to unknown
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.64 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H., 1829-? Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 April 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Height: 24.6 cm, Width: 19.6 cm Order a Copy
Possibly an incomplete letter. Describes a fight that three gunboats had in Stono Inlet. Says the boats saw "a large party of contrabands whom a troop of cavalry were endeavoring to drive off. As the gunboats approached the slaves waded out as deep as they could, towards them and the cavalry commenced cutting and slashing away at them with their sabres." The gunboats fired a cannon and stopped the slaughter, taking in 70 blacks of both sexes and all ages. Describes a run-in with an ex-Congressman named Griswold and reports that "I dont think much of the intellect of South Carolinians, the ideas they seem to have of everybody from the north, are about what might be supposed to be held by the people of Japan previous to the treaty." Reports that the commodore has given them permission to enlist contrabands to act as firemen or "at any duty that requires exposure to the sun and heat. This is a capital move, both on account of the health of our men, and I think also, it is the best disposition to make of the darkies." Continues letter on 26 and 29 April. References the capture of several steamers by the blockade. Says he is on his way to Port Royal.
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