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ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
Sunday 26th Feb. 1865
Georgetown S.C.
Dear Virginia: When I closed yesterday’s journal, I said we were going to
sea. It was even so and a rough time we had of it. We thought it would be
smooth before morning but it grew rougher we had Cape Roman to double I
thot the ship would roll the guards off - She did get them stove in, however
we made Georgetown Light by day light and went up the Pee Dee River to the
town. It was on account of communicating with Sherman that the trip was so
urgent. He is making a circle around the country & will strike the coast and
we are anxious to assist him. This has been very unlike Sunday. We had only
a few hours to remain and all the boats have been employed. I had a quiet
morning but the afternoon I was busy. About what I will tell you tomorrow.
You and the babies are in our little room all so quiet thinking “when will
Papa turn home” or maybe are at meeting with Annie. I wish you might have
been with me today. I am tired and will leave you until tomorrow.
Ever
your own love Sumner
27th
Georgetown is a port of entry at the head of Winyaw Bay. Exports rice,
turpentine and lumber chiefly. An old place, has some fine residences and
stores. Last week the MINGOE and WANDO silenced the batteries below the town
and came up landing two or three hundred Marines and after a short skirmish
took the place.
The people here are chiefly Negroes. The Whites are Secesh. Our Pilots who
left when the war commenced say there are not more than a dozen men who have
been Union from the first. The Admiral has put the City under martial law and
issued a proclamation, a part of which reads thus:
"In accordance with an Act of Congress, etc., Slavery no longer exists within
the limits of the Union and every man is entitled to the fruits of his own
labor” and so forth. The Negroes seemed to anticipate this proclamation for
hundreds came down and wanted to “ship”. I examined and passed 15 and now
they are in the service - The Admiral has ordered the wealthy to be assessed
to feed the poor and has established some other wholesome regulations - I
went ashore and walked about the town. The people are sullen and will not
speak to us if they can help it. Not so with the Negroes. I went into
several of their shanties and found them in great glee. They say “why did you
stay away so long? We’ve been praying and praying for you to come”. You
could hear them ejaculate prayers which would amuse you - They were heartfelt
- They say more than twenty of them have been hung for trying to reach our
lines. All those I examined were scarred badly and have suffered terribly.
They are many of them pious and had few vices. Licentiousness is their
besetting sin, passion controls them - Their master’s blood is seen in many
faces. Poor people but many of them are “children of their Kingdom”. I wish
you might hear their sad minor melodies. Theirs is a religion of the heart -
I got our guides to sing “Wrestle Jacob” and "I’m Bound to the Land of
Canaan”. They sing all over arms and all. They could not keep still and
sing - But you don’t like Negro religious exercises. I do and nothing pleases
me more than to see their strong faith helping them when their Wives and
Children are run off and in difficulties, which would appall even you and I.
These people gave us their chickens, pigs, and ducks etc. saying, “We wish we
had more to give you, you are welcome”. I paid them in greenbacks. You
should have seen them when I showed them Lincoln’s picture on one of the
bills. They crowded about and were as pleased as you would be to see a chef
d’oeveres - We are here yet. The storm preventing our going to Charleston - I
am busy now and will talk more in the morning or by and
by I love you today
your own Sumner
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HARVEST
MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
March 2006
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