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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
U.S.S. Harvest Moon Navy Yard Washington
Mar.4 1864
Dear Virginia
I am yet in Washington and think I
shall remain until the middle of the week. You have by this time rec'd my
letter and also my telegram I did not know how short my stay would be
there and I sent a dispatch so you would have time to write to me before I have
to go south for I shall not receive yours that you have already sent until we
go to Charleston, which will be soon I
found out M.C. they are living in a very common but respectable manner
and received me very kindly Mrs. C has been very ill with pneumonia but is
improving She inquired very particularly for you Sent her regards and
remarked that you was a "Dear little creature when in the Normal School and
she was very glad to learn that you was so happy She seemed exceedingly glad
to see me and both talked incessantly and Mr. C said he was very glad to know
I was in the service I made an explanation which he said was entirely
satisfactory.
I have been in the Capitol and I never
saw anything so grand and I am certain nothing so imposing Mr. C. says there
is but one building which is its equal that in St. Petersburg I have all the
time and every place is open but I do not go much for I have no one to explain
anything to me But I shall go and see the White House and the Public
Buildings Today I have not been out of the ship today as I have had some
extra duty to do Yesterday I saw Mr. Sumner and the Vice President I mean to
get a view of Uncle Abe before I go I have been from you it seems most a year
and yet 'tis but a fortnight I do not see how I am to endure it I think
sometimes that I could afford to pay four dollars per day to be with you It
will be so long before I can cancel my debts even at that rate that I am
almost discouraged and after that I might not see it to be my duty to resign
and now I am twice as homesick as when I was near Port Royal for I was
some time away from you but now I could reach you in twenty hours had I leave
to go but it cannot be Do you feel happy and contented with me away? Do you
bear it like a brave little wife? or do you rustle and fret and sigh for your
Sumner? I was very much pleased with the view of the river and of Mt. Vernon
But ;I shall have to wait until I get home before I can tell you much of it
One thing however, I saw the horse pens on the bank and also the place where
the condemned ones are shot One or two were dying as we passed I saw one
shot The river is about as wide as from our house to Mrs. S. Conrey's The
Navy Yard is not near so extensive or pretty as the one in Boston I learn
officers may be detached at any time I will mention that the Admiral may not
return immediately There are rumors that he will not go back but Farragut will
take his place Everything here is expensive I put out a day of clothes to
wash and expected to pay as much for doing it as they are worth
[The letter ends here with no closing.
Possibly this is one of a number that has the closing pages missing. The
group of pages as the end is very difficult to match up-ed.]
ps. C has been very ill with pneumonia but
is improving She inquired very particularly for you
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MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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