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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN

 CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY

 

 

 

April 29 1864, Bay Chesapeake

 

Dear Virginia,

  You can hardly know how beautiful the day is.  Just warm enough.  Just quiet enough.  The bay is full of the biggest laziest fattest ducks you ever saw and we are enjoying ourselves very much.  I go on deck and look over the rail and drink in as much enjoyment as I can ever have away from you.  If you and the children were with me I could be as happy as a schoolboy.  I hastily made an envelope and send it to Nellie.  If she would like me to I will here after enclose a letter when I write to you.  I can't tell you how much joy I have in thinking of our children of mine.  Nobody has any like them.  I was talking with a very sensible, capable man, an engineer[1], about them when lo, he had two and one of them a Fred only six days older than ours and strange, he thinks there is no boy like his and the Pay[2]. is sure no boy is anything like his Fred.  In short, you should be near and hear some remarks and you would be convinced that all us married officers have very fine families.  0h, a man loves his home.  How much of this longing has been made necessary by a few wicked designing men.  I am reading the book of Job.  I have read twenty chapters and when I am through I am going to review it.  I like it much.  I never read it much.  I read a chapter in the forenoon and then sing a familiar hymn, the same we so often have sung so many times together and it makes me feel happier and everything looks better, but let me break off short again and say I love you, but must leave you.  Have faith in God Virginia.  All our hope is in him.  Again kiss the little ones.  I long to see you all and certainly shall because (letter ends here-ed.)

 

Surgeon Deane begins writing again on the front, perpendicular to the normal writing axis

 

... God's family and are in his keeping are you happy when you look at Fred while he sleeps and know that you have given him to God?  I know you will be a good girl Virginia, a husband never looked upon a young mother, with more satisfaction than I do upon you and I feel you are fulfilling your mission most nobly.  Sumner loves you, your children love you, and Jesus loves you more than all.  How much you are loved! Are you not very happy then?

 

                                                                                                                                Ever yours,  S.


 

[1]  Probably Acting 3rd Asst. Engineer Frederick W. Racoe.

[2]  Acting Asst. Paymaster Lawson E. Rice

 

 

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