Online access and copy requests are not available for this item. You may request to be notified of when this becomes available digitally.
- GLC#
- GLC03836.16-View header record
- Type
- Letters
- Date
- 17 August 1861
- Author/Creator
- West, Lewis H., 1829-?
- Title
- to R. West
- Place Written
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Pagination
- 4 p. : docket ; Height: 24.6 cm, Width: 19.6 cm
- Primary time period
- Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
- Sub-Era
- The American Civil War
Says their commander will be changed again. Says his ship has had 4 captains since he has been assigned to her. Reports that their first lieutenant will not leave as he is very young, but that he has improved discipline greatly. Wants a young commander to become captain, as their last 2 were in the service for 30 years before taking command. Says it "is a ruinous system truly, where [a] man loses the most energetic part of his life in subordinate positions, before he can command even a little vessel like this." Says the blockade is ineffective. Claims the commerce of the South to be shut down, but that privateers come and go as they please. Blames officers for the situation and claims the navy "will probably have very different notions about duty before this war is over." Reports that the government is relying on merchant marine men to fill the officers corps. Mentions the sad loss of General Lyon in Missouri. Mentions McClellan's address to "the mutinous 79th." Expresses anger at the secessionists who are allowed to advocate their cause behind Union lines.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
- Copyright Notice
- The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.