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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.
This officer carries out all the orders of the Captain
and all requests, grievances, etc. go to the Capt. through him. We have a
Chief Engineer
who has charge of the E. Department, and a Paymaster
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 ….
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HARVEST
MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
March 2006
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