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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
Stono Inlet July 19th 1864
My own dear Virginia,
It is now six o'clock and as
the MASSACHUSETTS lies off here. There is a probability that I can send
this. This is the very first minute I have had of leisure. I did not know it
was Sunday until after four o'clock this afternoon. Everything is in
confusion in consequence of the departure of the Army and Fleet from the upper
part of the creek. We have been hard at work since yesterday morning. You
see, all the supply, coal, and ordinance vessels are sailing vessels and have
to be towed by the steamers. The results have not been very disastrous to
either Army or Navy and I dare say all they expected to do has been done.
Some 90 or 100 have been killed in the Army, none have died belonging to the
Navy.
Last night about 2 a.m. I was called.
A tug came along side with wounded men from the Ironclad MONTAUK for me to
take charge of. That is why I had been so busy. It seems the men were on
deck thinking the fire from the batteries had slackened, but a shot came and
took off one man's leg and injured one other.
I dressed the wounds and the men are
doing very well. The shell made a deep wound in the leg so I could run my
finger in under the muscles. His leg is very painful, but the bone and large
vessels are not injured. He will not lose his leg. The other man, poor
fellow, has lost his leg already. It was taken off up higher by the Surgeon
at about the time he was hit. He was not out from the influence of chloroform
when he came on board and did not know he had lost his leg.
I have just been on shore to get ice. I
got a bit last night. Today I was fortunate in getting a number of cakes.
The Sanitary Commission have a shipload here. I have no dangerously sick men
although dysentery is quite troublesome disease. Some half doz. have it
slightly. I myself am well, better than I have been for a week, yes, three
weeks.
I was happy to get your letter
yesterday. I assure you I can not tell you how much for I am writing in a
hurry, but it and Mothers were so well come and comforting. You think of
Sumner don't you, and so does Nellie? I can't stop to put hers up in the
large form but will fold up a little note. I shall send you a draft as soon
as I can. The Pay has not heard from his yet, but I am sure you will get in
this month. I had $69.71 coming to me July 1st so you will have plenty. You
can just trust a little while. I would send you some in this, but I don't
dare to.
You must get my slippers underweigh, 8
you know, high in the instep. I can wear 7s if they are high in the instep.
Mine will last a month or two. I shall write for some things in a month or
so.
Again, no closing.
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HARVEST
MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
March 2006
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