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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
At Sea July 7th, 1864 In an envelope
w/ Aug 2 1864 postmark to ANNIE L. DEAN FOXBORO MASS BOX 41
Dear Sister, I can not write very plainly
for the vessel trembles so much but maybe you can make it out.
We are on a very pleasant duty now. We do
nothing but carry dispatches for the fleet. I do not know how many times we
have been to sea the last week. You can imagine us taking a trip every day of
40 miles or so. The weather is beautiful. It does not storm here. A squall
comes up and lasts an hour or so and then all is bright again. We are going
into Port Royal now where I expect to get letters from home. I have not
received dates later than the 27th. I think I shall not have time
to write a letter to Virginia before we go out again. I suppose we shall go
to Stono in the morning. Stono is a dozen miles below Charleston and there is
a passage up to the city that way and we are fighting there. The Army are
gathering there rapidly. I think they have found the only practical way to
Charleston. This way Sumpter and Moultrie are not in the passage. I could
see the shells fall into the batteries very distinctly and in the night you
can see it as it takes its curve through the air and when it happens to
explode in the air the effect is beautiful. You may know that these Mortar
shells are one foot and three inches in diameter. I would not have one hit
me! I do not think we shall be injured. Indeed I sleep as quietly up the
creek as at Port Royal. I could hear the shell whiz as I lay in my berth last
evening. I want you to tell Virginia that my slippers are getting poor and my
pants have a hole in the seat. (side bar by him on the letter: "I
expect I sit down too much!!") I shall expect a box in about six or eight
weeks. I do not need anything now. I have sent to Lawrence by the Pay. for a
few things as we are of the same measure. It is very hard to get anything to
eat. We have no fresh vegetables not even potatoes. We missed the supply
vessel and therefore got no fresh meat. If we were long enough in a place we
could go ashore and buy, for the corn and potatoes and peaches are ripe. The
figs will be in two weeks. I expect I wrote to you since I did to Marcus, but
I am not sure. You can remember me to him and Mother and the others. I want
to hear from you very much. All of you. It seems a long while since I spent
a day with you. Last Sunday while you were at Church we were throwing shells
at the Rebs. You would have thought it was the 4th. Did you have
a good time on the 4th? I suppose you have had an excursion? You must tell
me all about it. Give my love to all the folks, to Virginia, and the babies
and write to me very soon.
Affectionately, Sumner
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MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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