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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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March 2006

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