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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN

 CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY

 

 

 

U.S.Str "Harvest Moon" Navy Yard, Wash. Apr.8th (1864)

 

Dear Mother,

 I do not know but you will be as much interested if I tell you something of the routine of duty on ship as in anything I could write.  I will tell you what we do here in Wash.  It is not the same at sea.  We have three watch officers who by turns are on the deck four hours, and never leave it unless they are relieved by the Ex. Officer[1].   This officer carries out all the orders of the Captain[2] and all requests, grievances, etc. go to the Capt. through him.  We have a Chief Engineer[3] who has charge of the E. Department, and a Paymaster[4] who has charged to his acc't all the ships provisions, clothing and small stores. Also, he has in his safe some $10,000 so if he makes any mistakes it comes out of his own pocket for he is under heavy bonds.   These and the Dr. make up the ward room officers proper.  Then we have three officers who are connected with the Admiral and besides an officer who is a passenger making a family of 11.  The officers of the deck gives all his orders to the boatswain, who have command of the men or to the quartermaster, who have charge of the headlights and signals or to the master-at-arms who has charge of the decklights and the behavior of the men or to the carpenter who has charge of repairs or to the engineer who is on watch at the engines.  The Ex Officer in case of action calls the men to quarters at the guns by beating a large gong.  All hands are called at six bells.  Every watch of four hours begins with one bell and the bell is struck every half hour - thus half past eight is one bell, 9 is 2 bells, 12 o'clock, 8 or 4 is eight bells.  All hands are called and have 15 minutes to dress and lash their hammocks up.  If they fail they are punished.  Then all hands set to washing up the decks after which they have their breakfast.  Everyone on board breakfasts at 8 bells. Throughout the year, after breakfast, any work on hand is done by those whose turn it is to be on watch.  Every man has to be on duty 12 hours out of 24.  The men dine at 12 o'clock(8 bells), the officers at 1 o'clock(2 bells) and the Admiral at 3 o'clock(6 bells) in the afternoon.  There is not much done in the afternoon.  The men who are not on lookout mend and make their clothes and have a social time - on the deck forward if it is pleasant.  At 4 o'clock (8 bells) the men have their supper and at dusk get their hammocks & are soon in bed - in hammock!  At night there is always an officer, a quartermaster, a messenger boy - and from two to four men on lookout on the deck, besides the engine men whose duty is the same at night as during the day.  At the present time we are moored at the wharf and can step ashore at any time, but I will tell Marcus about that.  I read the Chronicle today, which Louisa sent, but do not see any thing startling in it so I presume you are moving along quietly.  Do you and Virginia manage to do without quarrelling or do you have some words?  I suspect it is about Nellie, if anything.   She thinks tis dirty upstairs.  I shall hold you responsible for her education in those things for you know if her mother has a ….[5]


 

[1] Act. Master Robert T. Wyatt

[2] Act. Lt. Joshua D. Warren

[3] Act. 2nd Asst. Engineer James A. Miller

[4] Act. Asst. Paymaster Lawson E. Rice.

[5] The remainder of the letter is missing.

 

 

 

 

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HARVEST MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

March 2006

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