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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN

 CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY

 

 

 

July 15th 1864

Dear Mother,

 I am in the harbor of Port Royal with a hundred ships in sight.  The moon is now shining brightly. The air is warm and every one seems to be enjoying themselves.  The more so as the FULTON came in today with its cargo of letters.  I rec'd three papers and two long letters.   We were very sad to learn our Army has to fight so near home we expect to hear of their being drawn back soon.  I do hope they may.

  Today I went to Hilton Head.  From one house it has become almost a city.  We can buy everything you can only we pay fabulous prices.  I had to pay $5.00 for a pair of shoes and they were the cheapest article.  I saw hams 35cents, envelopes 30 cents a package.  We can buy all sorts of vegetables, watermelons, corn etc.  We had a beautiful sail and a good time.  I have sent H & V two papers each which I bought.  We are now coaling the ship, but expect to go down the coast 30 miles to blockade duty.  There is a gunboat and a Monitor there now.  It is the South channel to Savannah.  I think it will be a safe healthy station as good as "Tybee".  I shall not get the mail so soon by a few days.  I will mention that I sent Virginia a draft which I hope she may receive.

  I spent a few minutes fishing tonight after supper.  I caught one.  We all five.  Quite enough for breakfast.  Usually we are not in one place long enough to fish successfully.  My sick men are all doing well even Mr. Wyatt is quite well and is doing duty.  I do hope it will not be sickly this summer.  The men are out of vegetables and suffer.  Most of them have a crop of boils as a consequence.  The Paymaster cannot procure vegetables.  We did not get any when the supply vessel came in for we were on dispatch duty.

 I am very glad to learn Edward has come home safe.  I always had a presentiment that he would, but at many times his case looked doubtful.  I hope I may be able to be welcomed home safe before a year, the war closed and we a united people or at least a united territory.  I expect Father, Marcus and Henry are doing the haying with all dispatch and are working very fast and hard.  Do they mow with a machine?  I hope they do.  I do not like to think of F swinging the scythe when he has so much to go over.  I know by experience what it is to mow, although I liked it quite as well as raking.  I am glad to learn the strawberry beds did so nicely.  Shan't you do more at the business, i.e. enlarge the bed?  I read with much pleasure the local items in the Chronicle and shall miss it very much.  Do people like the idea of it being stopped?  They would appreciate even a poor paper  when they are away from home.

  I passed a prison ship coming from the "Head" on which is a Maj. Gen., Brig., and down to Col.  A dozen or two.  They are to be placed under fire at Charleston in retaliation.  They are building a house for them under fire of Sumpter.  I mean to write to Louisa or Virginia in answer to theirs of today, if I can before the mail goes North.

Virginia says the Coneys are out from Brooklyn I suppose they come over as often as they usually do!  I know Aunt          is an exception.  I had not heard that H was dead until Louise told me.  It seems he did not recover from his first illness.  They will miss him, (especially) his father.  He used to help him very much.  I was glad to hear that V & babies were well.  It always gives me a thankful heart to hear such news.  They have got along infinitely better then I had any reason to expect.  But let me say a good night to you.  All  My love to Father and all.

Affectionately,

 

Sumner

 

 

 

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