ASHAEL SUMNER DEAN
CIVIL WAR LETTERS TO
HIS FAMILY
USS “COLUMBIA” Charleston {S.C.} May 12 {1865}
My Dear Virginia
You remember I was too tired to finish my last letter and promised to do it
at another time. I did not review all your letters, but as several are now in
one envelope, I will not try to arrange them, but in stead will write all
about myself. I am in my own room on the COLUMBIA, I have a larger one then
in the ‘HM’. I have my trunk under my bed, a large bureau on my right, and a
nice secretary opposite full of books and at it I now sit. Over my bureau is
the mirror I had in the ‘HM’. My wash stand is in a little nook, the door is
between the sec. and bureau front of my berth. I have three windows into the
Ward Room. They are curtained from the ‘HM’. Our Ward Room is larger than
our old one and as Capt. is in the mess it includes the cabin in it. We have
a splendid steward and cook and eat what you will have to wait for
until warmer weather.
I had new potatoes, peas, lettice, roast beef, and black berries for dinner.
Yes, turnips and radishes, vegetables are as cheap as with you, but meats are
more. Berries are in profussion at 6 cts a quart and peas at 25 cents a peck.
I shall eat vegetables a good deal. I have meat enough - Our mess numbers
9. Capt. Hayward, Regular Navy - Pay’r Thomas, Chief Eng. Berry, Acting
Masters Jones, Forsyth, Crosby and Myers.
A survey was held on the ship today and she was declared to be fit for sea
service i.e. to go home. Everything is being done to make her safe, divers
are at work on her bottom. Powerful pumps are put in her and extra boilers
and engines in the casemate to work the pumps in case the main engines should
not work. She will be towed by the VANDERBILT which is here, A tug will go
with us and probably Sloop of War the PAWNEE. The Admiral and we are to go
home soon, and will go at the same time to give him a chance to see her at
sea. I do not feel any apprehension as to her sea worthiness. What they fear
is the working of her armor and thus cause her to leak. I do not think so.
She is made of too large timber. She is a large vessel, 50 ft beam, 217 feet
long and draws 13 feet of water.
Don’t laugh at this. You may infer that it is ment for a picture of the
COLUMBIA. I can’t draw.
Editors note:
The Columbia was built in Charleston by Jones & Eason.
Launched 10 Mar 1864. 1520 tons, 1 screw, 2 horizontal direct-acting HP
engines (36" x 2'), 5 boilers213' x 51'4" x 13'6". Crew 50, 6 guns, 6"
armor. Ran onto a sunken wreck near Fort Moultrie, 12 Jan 1865. Salvaged by
USN and towed to Norfolk, 25 May 1865. Sold by USN, 10 Oct 1867
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HARVEST
MOON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
March 2006
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