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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
Port Royal July 30 1864
Dear Mother,
I have just come from sick call and I take
this time to answer your letter. It is very, very warm with no cool dry
breeze to come across your brow, it makes anything a task. It is work to do
nothing, in fact not much is done. A very little exertion brings on diarrhea
and dysentery. I am every day giving medicine for diarrhea. None are very
sick, they usually get well in a week unless taken very seriously.
Last night the Admiral signaled to us to
get under weigh and go to Charleston, but we were called back before we got
out of the harbor. I do not know for what reason. I see no signs of going
away to day. The whole fleet might as well be in New York Bay as here for all
the work it does. We simply blockade. It is like catching mice. If no mouse
comes out we have nothing to catch. I am not very sanguine of getting prize
money. I think only about one a month is taken and I suppose there are nearly
a hundred vessels. You say Father has gone to P(Providence, Rhode
Island-ed.) for hay? I imagine his net income from his new possessions,
aside from cranberries, will be subtractive quantity especially if he does any
financing! I hope Grand-father and Mother will worry less now they have
disposed of their real estate. Father's work will be increased I am certain.
I heard by Virginia of your sickness and am fearful it has by this time
increased, but I am hopeful that by the next mail to learn that you are
better. I know from observation what it is to lie on ones bed in weather like
this, but you have the consolation of being among friends and at home. I tell
you when one is a little sick he wants to be at home. He fears at those times
he may never be at home and it is at such times that the disposition comes so
strong to roll the evil to be borne to day upon tomorrow. Loading it with
gloom and thus he gets well slowly with no loving face to look upon him in
loneliness. It is indeed well for one if he has quite yielded his pack where
Bunyans regime did and is Christian enough to be so light and glad some as to
"take no anxious thought". I know there are many such to them Sickness hurts,
but to remain or depart since to them brings a short answer "Thy will not
". I wish every sick sailor and soldier could say as much. I will bear in
mind your request made in your last letter. You remember it? As near as I
can learn Virginia and the children are not very well. I know these two
months will be severe. I hope fall will find us all much stronger for I must
confess that this weather tells on me. I am much poorer than usual and not as
strong, but I keep about and hope I may be able to do this next worst month.
I wish I could be at home a month. Nothing could be so great a pleasure, but
I do not hope, indeed I have no right to. I expect to see home before a year
has gone. I mean to by June.
You will I know remember and kindly tell
Father and the children. Tell Annie that she improved very much in her
composition and penmanship in her last letter and I fully concur with her in
her opinion of Fred. I will write to Virginia in this same mail. She will
find letters also in a box which will come by express. I hope your arm will
very soon be well and then you can answer this
Affectionately Sumner
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