ALS
4 pp.
October 27, 1861
Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney
Adelaide E. Case (Addie) writes to Charles N. Tenney (Charlie), of Company H, of
the 7th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Tenney entered the service on April
25th, 1861, for 3 months. He then mustered out and reenlisted on June 20th,
1861, for 3 years. He was wounded in the Battle of Kernstown, Virginia (March
23rd, 1862). He returned to duty and died of dysentry at Harper's Ferry,
Virginia on June 14th, 1863. In Addie's letter of October 27th, 1861, she writes
about a recent death in her home town of Mecca, Ohio and reflects on the
uncertainty of life. Her letter is flirtatious and playful. She talks, for
example, about another man's interest in her--a member of Tenny's regiment--and
says that she would rather be courted by Charlie. She also reflects on whether
women prefer flattery to other forms of attention. And she tells him about going
to a Ball for the 6th Ohio Cavalry, which she enjoyed, and asks him to guess who
she would rather have been with.
