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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
U.S.
Ship OHIO, Boston, Jan 10, 1864
Dear
Virginia
You
will look for a letter Monday night Although I did not promise you one I feel
every time I leave you that you are dearer to me than all the other things that
I claim as my own. I felt this more on Saturday than ever before I did feel
very badly about leaving you and yet only for a week. All the way while in
sight of the house I look for something that would tell you were watching me But
your two pets keep Momma close by the fireside i called on grandmother she could
hardly express here joy to know that you were back once more she is tired to
death with Aunt Asenath says she would sooner have you and the babies she cant
get rid of her I was quite at home in a few hours after I came aboard the ship
though the night was cold and I had no little wife near me to put her head on my
arm and lie so close to me.
(Saturday morning) Lemira came to see me with Miss Reed We nit-picked
everything thouroughly, and she seemed glad to see me and will make another call
she says she had a vacation in a week of a week and she will if her father will
allow her (to) try to visit you. She remained with me three hours.
I
called on Mr. Mayhew at his place of business yesterday and shall try and call
at his house Wednesday morning and before the week goes out see Emma in her
house.
I saw
Mr Will Grover this morning as I was going to church He is boarding in Chelsea
takes his meals at the hospital pays $4.00 dollars you I need not speak of this
price - Do you think I had better run over and call on them? I saw Mr Wilcox he
doesn't know whether he can match your dress or not and he does not know whether
this remnant of one and a quarter yards is from your piece or not He thinks it
is I do at least I think it will do you can't do better he gives me the yard
and a quarter for $1.62 ($1.25?dt) I will bring it to you and anything you may
need to trim it with also anything else you may need you will please send for
My ship has come back from the dry dock and we think we shall get away in two or
three weeks
We
have organized the mess of the (7) and pay in a $100
We
have the ladies cabin for a common room and the Captain has given us the
staterooms on the deck besides so we are very fortunate I have met most of the
officers The Captain has given me a splendid room for the Dispensary and Sick
Bay and has ordered me to have it fitted up to my liking I shall attend to it
in the coming week Will you ask F(father) if he wants a half ream of paper
like this for a $1.25 or some like yours for .75 I have heard the eloquent
A.L.Stone today I do not like him He may be a good man he does not impress one
with his holiness so much as with his rhetoric he seems to aim like Chadwick to
say something pretty or eloquent rather than to convert sinners I shall not go
to hear him preach again Though I would like hear him lecture The converse
holds good with me in the case of Beecher
Anna
Carpenter is to have a great party on Wednesday maybe we shall have cards! Have
you heard from home? I would try and write this week if I could find the time
How does wifey? She can do away from Sumner where she is now as well as in
N.B.(New Bedford-ed.) I think you can The winter will soon be gone and you can
get out and have more liberty than I on my little boat and you will wait for my
long letters and be so glad to get them Do you think you shall do alone? You
must not allow yourself to rundown. Shall I bring home anything to eat? I can
if you think it best I shall try to come by at 5 in the evening and I shall
have to return Monday We had a splendid dinner of roast turkey, etc for dinner
I thought of you as I eat a large slice of breast. The ship has almost 1100 men
on board now and we dispensed medicines to over 60 of them. But three vessels
will draw on them this week for about 400 so we shall not have so many Have you
been to church any part of the day? If you have, tell me about it Who took care
of Fred? Dear Virginia I love you so much that I can't say what I would like to
with my pen But will see you soon and say what I do not know I shall look for
yours very soon and shall find it warm & cheering I trust you are all well and
happy May God keep you thus always and lead us all in the green pastures and by
the still waters, until he takes us away, kiss the little one and think of your
own Sumner who loves all of you tenderly and constantly.
Sumner
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