West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) to R. West
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.51 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Place Written: Aboard USS "Ladona" at Port Royal, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 July 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 24.6 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy
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 the crew gave Calhoun three cheers and that some even wept. Received orders the next day to go to Port Royal to tow an ironclad to Charleston. Head winds kept him from towing the ironclad and instead he delivered supplies to the blockading fleet. Says an attack on Charleston probably commenced today, but that this time it will be a siege. Says "If we get Charleston and Vicksburgh, I am perfectly willing to let them have Harrisburgh or even Philadelphia for a while, which by all accounts they seem likely to do." Says it seems that men are turning out in the numbers needed to meet the emergency in Pennsylvania and wonders why the women have not pushed them.
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