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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
Harvest Moon" Washington, April 21 1864
Dear Virginia
I am going to commence a little
journal. I feel tired and do not know how far I shall get. May be so as to
send it to you tomorrow
Today I took a ramble. Went over the
Potomac on to the Maryland side. Climbed the hills of sand and went through
deep cuts the sides of which we find sand. Indeed, in my stroll I did not see
one native stone. All the soil and base also can, on any light, bright day,
be made into the dust of the air by a little breeze, but fortunately we had a
moist day. Are the violets out with you and the cattle in pasture and the
trees leafing? The peas in the gardens are quite high and salads and green
fruit is in the market. I called at the Asylum. What funny people crazy
people are. One old man had a passion for diamonds and he has quite a
collection of pebbles which he has picked upon the grounds. One is insane
over Gen. Banks he said to us, "Gen. Banks went to the W (war) Dept. for help
and not a man could he get, all , everyone of them were cowards! You two
excepted"!
Old Caesar the negro has a big watch but
he can't tell the time but he thinks he can so it is all the same. He is
about 70 yet he expects soon to be married.
April 22
Dear Wife
We have another beautiful day. Wish you
could be here to breathe the warm balmy air. It then would be even warmer and
balmier for now in your absence nothing has its highest charm. I am beginning
to lose sight of you. I can not think what you do or where you are. It makes
me sad and I am homesick. I tried to think what you could be doing this
morning but could not. Tell me, how you look, what dresses you wear and about
your tea table. Do you want Sumner to be with you or have you become used to
eating alone? Are you well? Do you feel certain that you are? If not tell
me in your next letter. You must know your husband has great anxiety for
you. Did you know that we are going to Charleston on Monday. I think there
will not be much doubt about it. The Admiral would go tomorrow only he waits
to hear the funeral service preached. Then I can hear from you only once in
two weeks. I want you to write on the receipt of this and direct it to A. A.
Surgeon A. S. Dean, U.S. Str' Harvest Moon, Flagship, S.A.B Squadron, Port
Royal S.C. You see all the mails go to P. R. and then are sent from there to
the different vessels of the Squadron. I think the mail leaves N.Y. about the
first of the month of May and there is one every 8 days. I suppose you are in
need of money. You must write me the particulars about it. I am out of debt
and I shall soon be able to send you a draft of $50 I think by the 10th of
May. As I cannot get an answer to this, I will not send it until tomorrow and
will finish this evening. I wish I could see my little "Tulip" and Master
Fred. Does he run yet? Ha! Kiss him for his P. This afternoon I spent in
the Capitol and I did indeed hear some fine sharp debating. I liked the
address of Mr. Lane of Ind. very much. He was so logical, rhetorical, and
parliamentary and for all he had the opposition side, yet I could see how a
wrong question could be better presented than a right one. This is not just
the idea I have but you understand me. I saw Senator Sprague of R. I. He
looks about as old as Henry. Has more hair, (black) and is very much of a
fop in appearance, is handsome yet not more so than Henry Winter Davis of
Maryland who is the youngest Member of the House. He has hair the color of
mine. Beard and hair alike and both somewhat coarse. I have learned to know
most of the men of note in Congress. I have heard most of the New Eng.
members in debate. Wilson I do not like. I may say no one in either House
has so much in their appearance to impress one as Mr. Sumner. He certainly
has the finest voice and is the most learned as well as the most eloquent
member. It is a pleasure to hear his response to the ayes and nos. His no
comes out above the rest so beautiously. In relief, as it were. Our good
Gov. Boutwill is the hardest working and the most earnest man in the House. I
feel when I hear him speak that an honest man is talking. He spoke to day and
yesterday. They are at work on his tax bill. Our Rep. is the biggest man in
Congress. - J D Baldwin Oakes Ames is said to be the richest and Mr. Hooper
looks as though he drank as much rum as U Calvin. I judge by his face. The
President and wife were out on the avenue. The people scarcely look at them.
They would not be noticed from a soldier and nigro wench, whom I saw
yesterday, if you decided by their equipage.
I am going to send you a draft for $50
because I am here. You had better endorse your name on the back of it and ask
Mr. Cary or Robert to cash it for you. Either will do it. It is as good,
after you have simply written your full name Virginia H. Dean across the back,
as a $50 greenback and I have no risk because it must be endorsed by you
before it can be paid and there will be no express. If at any time you open a
letter and are sure the draft has been taken out, it would be well to inform
the Sub Treasury at Boston and then if the draft should be presented they
would know it was forged. I have not earned this but the Pay is willing to
advance it to me. You can let father have all but enough to last you a
month. You had better let him have a good part of it for should you come
short you could run in debt and he could send you some. I may need quite half
of it. Do always as you think best for you are on the spot and know better
than I. I was sorry not to get your letter. I hope you will send it so I can
hear from you before I go. I tried to buy Nellie something but did not see
anything I liked. Virginia, you can not draw the money on this draft if you
should present it in person for they would not know you, so you be sure to
give it to Rob't. It is as good as any greenback to him for the Pay. has
$2000 on deposit in the Treasury at Boston. I take a good deal of comfort in
surprising you with the money and I am sure you feel gratified. I am sorry I
have not yet heard from you. Your last letter was dated April 13, I think. I
hope I shall get one this morning. I shall not wait to see but will mail this
soon. I love you dearly and think of you very often. Give my love to all and
be my good little wife always. Your own affectionately
Sumner
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