The Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman MA in American History: Apply now and join us for Fall 2024 courses
31 May 1822
Gurney, Nathan, 1769-1850
to Aaron Hobart
Discusses the progress of a petition to the governor for an appointment of Dr. Collamore, which did not yet make it through the legislature.
GLC06313.04.187
15 March 1863
Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917
to his parents, [brother-in-law], and sister
Wheeler writes that the men have been busy foraging for Rosecrans' Army. He comments that they've been learning drilling in the French fashion. Writes that the men have taken to singing at night in their tents and have some pieces of sheet music...
GLC07460.022
24 September 1863
Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878
to Lewis West
Printed document signed by Welles. Orders that West is now detached from the USS "Ladona" and that he is to proceed to New York without delay. He is to report to Rear Admiral Paulding for passage to Charleston, South Carolina and to report to Rear...
GLC03836.56
30 May 1853
Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874
to Lewis Hayden
He has been so busy getting his affairs in order to leave for Washington that he hasn't had time to reply to Hayden. Writes that Wendell Phillips properly named McLean when he called him the "Western Miscreant." Possibly refering to John McLean, an...
GLC07483.18
circa 29 April 1858
Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879
Prospectus of "The North and South."
Transmitted by Burritt to Reverend Dr. Murray with a letter (GLC 2448.03.01). Advertises the publication of a weekly newspaper, "The North and South," with Burritt as editor. The paper's objective is to "unite the millions of all sections and...
GLC02448.03.02
13 May 1862
West, Lewis H., 1829-?
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...
GLC03836.35
9 July 1862
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...
GLC03836.36
26 August 1862
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...
GLC03836.37
31 October 1862
Paulding, Hiram, 1797-1878
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...
GLC03836.38
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...
GLC03836.39
17 January 1863
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...
GLC03836.40
23 January 1863
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...
GLC03836.41
5 February 1863
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...
GLC03836.42
9 February 1863
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...
GLC03836.43
12 March 1863
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...
GLC03836.44
22 March 1863
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...
GLC03836.45
12 April 1863
Might be an incomplete letter. Says the recent attack on Charleston was unsuccessful. Describes the battle in detail. Says "The result of this action is mortifying, but as I never felt very sanguine of it's success I can't say I am disheartened."
GLC03836.46
4 May 1863
Writes to his sister. Says nothing has occurred since the battle at Charleston except their capture of a schooner at Bull's Bay. In frustration says "I have now given up all hope of the Ladona ever doing anything. She is now so covered with grass and...
GLC03836.47
29 May 1863
Says he has not written because he has been busy with the absence of Mr. Carr and the discharge of their master at arms, both of whose duties he has to see to. Says the blockade is as bad as it has usually been, with ships running it every day. Says...
GLC03836.48
7 July 1863
Rowan, Stephen Clegg, 1805-1890
to Lewis H. West
Document written in secretarial hand and signed by Captain Rowan of the USS "New Ironsides" to West as the commander of the USS "Ladona," ordering him to proceed at once to Port Royal, South Carolina to tow one of the ironsides to Charleston. Also...
GLC03836.49
8 July 1863
Reynolds, William, 1815-1879
Document in secretarial hand and signed by Reynolds (the signature is sloppy and the spelling might be different) as "Commander & Senior Officer," possibly of a squadron of ships at Port Royal, written to Acting Master West as commander of the USS...
GLC03836.50
9 July 1863
Signed twice by West. Was given command of the "Ladona" 3 or 4 days previously, as Captain Calhoun was told to take command of the "Weehawken" very suddenly. Was happy for his captain's new opportunity, but sorry to see him leave the "Ladona." Says...
GLC03836.51
13 July 1863
Says he arrived at Charleston on 11 July and that the attack on the city started on the 10th. Reports Union forces have taken all of Morris Island except Fort Wagner. Describes the situation around Fort Wagner. Says the navy might have to land some...
GLC03836.52
19 July 1863
to Mary West [incomplete]
Written by Lewis to his sister Mary. References receiving her and Weir's joint letter. Says he will "not be altogether satisfied" if Lee is allowed to escape across the Potomac. Wants to know who General Meade is. Hopes to add Charleston to the...
GLC03836.53
1 August 1863
Mentions that Weir had gout. Weir had sent West a letter relaying a gloomy political scene in the North, and West responds saying "having passed the largest part of my life afloat, I am not much of a judge of the political feelings of people at home...
GLC03836.54
8 August 1863
References Weir's letter of 24 July. Says he just arrived in Charleston from Bull's Bay and that he is going to Edisto to coal. His one month of command has ended as Acting Lieutenant Broadhead has taken over. He likes Broadhead, saying he is young...
GLC03836.55
28 September 1863
Written on stationary of the Commandant's Office of the Navy Yard at New York. Written in a secretarial hand and signed by Paulding. Tells Acting Master West to report without delay to the commanding officer of the USS "Paul Jones" for a passage to...
GLC03836.57
7 October 1863
Says he is on board the USS "New Ironsides." Says it will probably not be permanent as she has a full compliement of officers. Says a small vessel made an attempt to destroy their ship with a torpedo, but they only succeeded in destroying his own...
GLC03836.58
8 October 1863
Says he sailed on the USS "Paul Jones" and arrived in Charleston 4 days later. Was then sent to the USS "New Ironsides" for duty. Was about to be reassigned to a monitor when an unexpected torpedo attack from the torpedo boat CSS "David" wounded an...
GLC03836.59
December 7, 1863
References receiving her latest letter. Says "For the first time since I have been in the service I feel thoroughly discontented. I fancied in coming here I was at length going to see active service but find just the reverse." Says they witnessed the...
GLC03836.60
2 March 1864
to Harriet Moore
References receiving her latest letter. Speaks cynically about the situation off the South Carolina coast, saying "It really seems as if there was a fatality about all our operations. here, every thing being put off too long. Everybody knows now that...
GLC03836.61
14 March 1864
References his mother's letter of 1 March 1864. Was the pilot for a group of ships that landed 300 soldiers at Bull's Island, South Carolina. The troops disembarked the same day without encountering any Confederate troops. Says that she is right that...
GLC03836.62
26 March 1864
References her letter of 14 March 1864. Says her opinion that he is "decidedly blue" is correct. Says it is depressing to have spent 3 years as he has at the age of 35. Speaks positively of the "change of feeling that has been wrought in public...
GLC03836.63
23 April 1864
to unknown
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...
GLC03836.64
24 April 1864
References her previous letter. A playful letter in response to Harriet's account of a fair at home. Says their boring existence continues and that the only distraction is going fishing 7 or 8 miles outside of Charleston. Says that "The white troops...
GLC03836.65
28 April 1864
Written in secretarial hand and signed by Commodore Rowan as commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Orders Acting Master West from the USS "New Ironsides" to the USS "Fernandina." Tells him to report to Commander William Reynolds, the...
GLC03836.66
29 May 1864
References her letter of 11 May 1864. Says he has heard of the hard fighting by Grant in Virginia. Laments his status as an "Acting Master," saying the government uses the rank to fill a variety of roles at lesser pay. Says they are very isolated and...
GLC03836.67
8 June 1864
Page 8 of this letter has a hand drawn map of the St. Catherine's Island area off the coast of Georgia. References receiving her latest letter. Says they came across a contraband signalling from the shore who told them he belonged to the USS...
GLC03836.68
10 July 1864
References receiving her latest letter. Says they have a vegetable garden on St. Catherine's Island. Says he recently spirited off 10 contrabands and sent them north to Port Royal. Says he has received orders to look out for the "Florida" and...
GLC03836.69
18 July 1864
References her letter of 4 July 1864. Says he collected money for a fair for the sailors in the squadron. Says he has collected 85 dollars thus far. Says he is glad that Confederate Captain Raphael Semmes was finally captured. Gives grudging respect...
GLC03836.70
7 April 1857
Payne, Thomas N., fl. 1857
[Check promising payment of $124]
Payne promises to pay the sum to Waddell, Russell, & Co. (William Bradford Waddell, William Hepburn Russell, and Alexander Majors).
GLC04128.02
3 - 5 February 1825
Hendricks, William, 1782-1850
to John Andrew Shulze
Printed resolution from the Indiana State Legislature opposing an amendment to the United States Constitution proposed by the Georgia Legislature that would restrict the movement of free blacks and manumitted slaves. First page signed by Hendricks...
GLC04565
26 December 1844
to Daniel Cady
Writes to his uncle about two merchants, Shepard and Wright, who owe him money. Believes that if they start legal action against Shepard, he will pay. With note and docket on verso by recipient.
GLC07483.16
21 September 1848
to Edward Augustus Stansbury
Mentions giving something about the men of the state to a W. Williams.
GLC07483.17
26 October 1856
to Reverand W. Heath
Replies to a request to come speak at the Reverend's church by stating that he is getting old and has almost entirely given up public speaking. Tells him to visit when he can.
GLC07483.19
15 October 1863
to William L. Starkey [?]
Has received his letter and states "Certainly, certainly, add my name to the list of subscribers." Comments that he was friends with the writer's father.
GLC07483.20
to Susan A. Doughty
Sends his autograph in reply to a request. Ends with "May you see many Happy years!" On gold paper.
GLC07483.21
15 December 1864
to Mrs. Showbergh [?]
Recipient's name is illegible. Gives his condolences for her husband, Henry R. Showbergh's [?] death.
GLC07483.22
7 January 1867
to C[?] Van W[?]
Asks recipient to send money to England because his daughter is spending a year in Europe. Recipient's name is illegible.
GLC07483.23
20 August 1868
to E.L. Wyler [?] Esq.
Recipient's name is illegible. Mentions Ulysses S. Grant/ Schuyler Colfax running for president/ vice president in the election of 1868 and states he is in support of them.
GLC07483.24
Showing results 78151 - 78200