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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN

 CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY

 

 

 

Tybee Roads, Mouth, Savannah River, May 14th (1864)[1]

 

Dear Wife, 

You may call this no. 13.  I will try and number my letters, all the more for receiving yesterday two letters from you. One of March 31 in answer to my telegram of 21.  The other one following that being date of 7th March.  You remember,  I rec'd no. A last week in Port Royal.  You see the mails are irregular, but sure.  Therefore, you must not lose an opportunity to write although you are not in receipt of mine.  We may receive a mail very soon, we may not for a long time.  I can assure you those two letters were as interesting as new ones, excepting they did not relieve my anxiety in regard to you at the present time.  Your cheerful manner relieved me much and I can feel somewhat satisfied to be away from you when I can feel that you live in so much hope and faith, Christian faith.  You are a blessed wife and I now can feel or manifest my gratitude and pleasure in being thus blessed.  How much your childlike notice of your visit to Mrs. Clopp's pleased me.  Marcus was nearly as well pleased as I to hear someone ask for that pretty little lady over there.  He likes you after all.  His better nature will cause him to treat you with kindness, I apprehend.  I am quite sure Father and Mother will be as good to you as you can desire and will love the children as much as they do their own.  You could come down and board here at the Fort if it were not for those same little birds, but they keep the old Robin near the nest.  Tis not like they can fly somewhat for themselves that you can go where you will.  Do you think you can go to Brooklyn this summer?  I suppose you can tell by now I do not know how you are situated as well as you.   I should like very much to have you go.  I know you would enjoy the present month there very much.  You must use your own judgement and the advice of your friends, however it is not a very great undertaking.  Get onto the cars and you are there in the morning and you will then only have to do as you do at home.  Take care of your babies.  You could leave Nellie, but she would like so much to go. but she could go now all but the work it would make you.   I don't know as you have money sufficient.  I can send you a draft of $50 by the end of the month if you have need of any.  You do as you think best about going.   I do not find anything to relate in the way of news for all is dull and sameness.  Someone goes a boating or visits the SOUTH CAROLINA every day.  Aside from that there is nothing. You would like to take your pail and run out and pick some blackberries such as we can anytime.  They are found in abundance on Tybee Island.  Very sweet and much larger then those grown at home. I had some a day or two ago.  There is a party on shore now and others will go this afternoon.  You speak of my being a congenial spirit with the Capt.  Do not say any such thing.  He is one of the most uncomfortable men to get along with I ever saw.  He has no opportunity to conflict with me, but I see and hear it all and the principle is the same as though he had.  I do not like to see others trod upon and it makes even a looker-on indignant. He is universally disliked by every body with whom he comes in contact with.  He talks with me.  I say nothing but keep up a thinking.  He is, "Great I did and do all that is done".   He has no principle, I mean religious,  is a Deist by his own confession if not by Profession.  In fact, he takes exquisite pleasure in showing everyone he has them in his power and you are very welcome to a favor if you will get down and kiss his toe.  We do not have much to do or say and don't care to.  Now you will not speak of this to the folks.  All this does not affect my comfort, physical I mean, and I do not mean to complain and shall not refer to it.  We other officers get along harmoniously and quietly with no jarring I expect some of them will be transferred soon.  I have one sick boy.  He has Typhoid Fever.   I look after him very assiduously and have him kept as comfortable as possible.  Dr. Vaughan[2] looks in at him frequently.  He will not die, I feel confident this morning he seems better.  He has been sick two weeks.   He went in bathing and has not been well since.  Through the Sanitary Commission he has every delicacy and comfort he needs and is quite contented  for one who is sick.  I will finish tomorrow or Monday.  I should like you to send the box as soon as you can.  The MASSACHUSETTS will leave Phila. in three weeks for this place and you must try and get it here by then.  You may put in two pr. of white pants if you have them and fill all the spare room with letters.  Supposing you put Fred in one corner?  He would have objections? You will not forget to put in both my linen coats, that white necktie wh.(abbrv. for which-ed.) I wore last summer and all my white stockings.  Mend them and I can wear them once and then throw them away if they are badly worn.  You may put in my "Sacred Seer" or some other singing books.  I should have you put in a pair of blue flannel pants did I feel certain I would get the box.  I shall need them before I can go North.  I think in less than a year.  I think I could obtain a leave of absence if a valid reason could be given this coming fall. Our having been associated with the Staff will be no disadvantage to know, when we ask for favors.  They liked the manner in which they were treated by us and have done considerable for us -some of us already. Through Lieut. Johnson[3], Mr. Bailey and one engineer[4] were allowed an examination for promotion and they have passed and will probably be put onto some other vessel when they get their orders. Dear, I love you, I love to talk with you and think how you used to look and how you moved about the rooms and many times came and sat near me, so near, I wish you could now.   Kiss me.  S.


 

[1] Some punctuation marks have been inserted to improve readability.  eps

[2] H. C. Vaughan,  Acting Assist. Surgeon on the USS South Carolina.

[3] William Johnson, Fleet Surgeon on Admiral Dahlgren's staff.

[4] Act. Ensign William Bailey and Act. 3rd Asst. Engineer Charles Davis left the Harvest Moon on May 5 to take promotion exams.

 

 

 

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HARVEST MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

March 2006

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