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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN

 CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY

 

 

U.S. Flagship Harvest Moon off Cape Charles, Feb. 29th (1864)

 

Dear Virginia,

 

  I am not so far from you as you suppose me to be you think I am in Georgia but I am within a days ride of you and it seems cruel to think I cannot see you.

  I have most forgot where I left off in my last letter but I think we were about to start for Charleston we arrived in safety by 7 o'clock PM Friday and in an hour the Pilot had an order to take us over the bar and the staff another to pack up their duds so we are back in the Ward Room but Cap'n is not, Admiral Dahlgren is the sole occupant of that.  He is alone without his staff and is bound for Washington we expect to take him all the way still we may go no farther then Ft. Munroe The voyage thus far has been propitious there has been no wind or rain since I left Boston and we go on deck with our slippers and don't feel a chill it seems like June.

  As we started in the night from Charleston I did not make any notes of the leave taking of the staff only I know t'had (they had-ed.) not time to take half their things and the Pilot who's a 3 striped man had only a five min. or so ~ we had not sailed more then two hours or so when a shot from a blockader brought us to and a boat was sent off to us to see whether we were a prize or not they were somewhat taken down when they found us out and the more so when Admiral sent back a reprimand to the Captain for being so far out yesterday Sunday was so warm that we had all the windows in the ship open the ocean was so smooth as glass  I woke at 8 for we were stopped by a schooner in distress  no food and a sick Cap'n so we sent off a barrel of bread & one of pork an Dr. Dean, They had 70 horses on board bound for Port Royal We started again nothing new happened except some half dozen sail were in view most of the time until very early this morning 1  1/2 AM  we were again brought to a very large sloop of war was on our starboard beam They would not believe what we told them but sent off a boat in the foam the sea was very heavy and our ship rolled terribly sending everything about the Ward room at a rapid rate they managed to board us without being swamped and they proved to be the

GRAND GULF ;blockading off Wilmington all day as we have been rounding Hatterras, the sea has been very rough I think I shall not be sea sick anymore and I have not since I first went to Charleston we expect to arrive at the Cape by midnight and be (off) F. Munroe early in the morning We shall not remain at Washington more than three or four days probably when we shall take him back to Charleston.  Gen. Gilmore was on board when we were in Port Royal and in an hour after he left we had the order to go to Charleston we only staid there long enough for the Admiral to turn temporary command to Com Rowan of the IRONSIDES  when we started probably Gen. Gilmores recent defeat had something to do with his visit to W.(Washington-ed.)

  We have just passed a double ender bound south I think it must have been the OSCEOLA which was ready to leave when we left Boston. This journal brings me up to dusk this eve.  and after (tea?-ed) I must talk with you somewhat longer but before I forget do not fail to send me the (Advertiser) for I have no later news then the 18th.

  Dear Virginia I could not finish my letter last evening the wind blew so hard the ship labored all night in very heavy seas we could not see the vessels length  We threw the lead every 15 minutes and the log every hour  I went to bed at 10 and you may think I thought of you and do you think I took a kiss and reached up and put it on your lips and looked at you so long before I blow out the light I could not but think of Nellie and her little(couplet?-ed) dont you see the black cloud rising over yonder sky and you may think I wished I was beside you in the night  my candle (went) over onto the floor my hat too tumbler and pitcher also both broken we came near running ashore at one time and at day light was only two miles away this morning it became calmer and we rounded Cape (Henry?-ed) took a Pilot on board and now are in the Potomac where it is as smooth as a mill pond  We have 9 miles to go only to reach W.(Washington) we should be there by light only we shall have to anchor it is to strong and dark although we shall get the papers when we get up to Fort Munroe do you love me Virginia kiss the babies

 

 

 

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HARVEST MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

March 2006

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