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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
The U.S. Str. Harvest Moon is on Potomac,
8 o'clock PM, 28 April 1864
Dear Wife,
I must not fail to send you one more
message before I am South again I waited to see if the Ship would not be
anchored but the Pilot thinks he can see so we shall run all night and by
morning shall be well down in the bay. We did not after all leave the wharf
until this afternoon about 3 o'clock. This time we are started surely for the
Squadron and we are all very glad to think we are on the way all but for one
thing, our mails.
I sent you, Marcus and Henry each a
paper which I dare say you have received. I expect to find letters from home
when I reach Port Royal. I do not think of anything new to write you. I will
only say of our voyage thus that the landscape has improved very much since we
were here last. Mt. Vernon looked like a Paradise as we came by it. You and
babies and I would like it for a home. The place looks calm and placid just
like its founder. You won't see any such place North. I do not mean on acct.
of cost or architectural beauty, but the beauty of age is upon it and also the
character of Washington seems to look out from it. The foliage now hides the
tomb and we can not see the arbors under the hill near the river's edge, but
you can see the green lawn about the broad Portico and can fancy you see his
black servant and all the other attributes of the old Mansion. Dear, dear one
you can't see your Sumner to night. You are thinking of him as you sit alone
looking into the stove. Maybe you think he is safe/ is he well/ does he love
me as much as ever/ has he changed in looks any? You get no answer to any of
these questions. You believe in regard to the first he is safe for God is
leading him. You have faith that he will sustain him and you could not
believe that I love you less. I do wish I could look on you for five minutes
or rather that you could see me now and be with me for I might as well wish my
largest desire, which you have been many times told, is to live near you
always. Were it a time of peace I should be but not poorly paid for this
separation. Has Fred improved any since you wrote last? You will try that
recipe if he does not improve, won't you? I am not certain but you had better
put in my linen coat unless you can dispose of it, however, I do not feel any
way particular about it. I wish I could know more about your every day work
and the round of duties at home. I want you to tell me what you do
afternoons. Maybe I can see you better if you tell me
I do not think of any message to send to
Nellie that she will appreciate. You can tell her that I do not see any
little girls that I love nearly as well as I do her and I want her to be a
very good little girl so that when I come home I shall love her as well as I
do now. Tell her if she is not good Fred won't be kiss 'em both many times
for Papa and continue to pray for one who loves to pray for you and thinks of
you. If I have time I may add a note in the morning. Your Sumner hopes he
may dream of you tonight. Your own Sumner
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HARVEST
MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
March 2006
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