University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, 12 January 1862

Are you of the opinion
that it is wrong to indulge in
letter writing on the sabbath?
What ever maybe your thoughts
that is one of my failings, if
failings it may be called.
Although I have written once to
Charlie since I received a letter
from him I thought, as I was
writing to Hallie, that I would
end a few lines to my "second
brother". I wrote you a few lines
and sent by John Chaffee or Joe Davis.

This is an awful gloomy day, windy

and rainy as ever.

I wrote you of the illness of one of
my schoolmates, Sadie Heslip. I called
to see her today and found her now
better.

Dear Charlie every day brings to view more
& more the awful verge on which our loved
and wretched country is trembling.
Although I am ashamed to own it
yet it is nevertheless true that
before this awful rebellion broke out
I cast no reflections upon this, our
America. I only thought of it as a good
and righteous government, I lived only
for myself nor even dreamed that
war that worst of all evils could
inhabit its land and although
I cannot sympathize, even now, with
our country as some can and do, yet-
I feel its awful effects most deeply.
I sometimes think that it is
more for my friends that I care
than for my country. It seems

natural but it may not be right.

But I have had time to consider.
When Hallie told us that he had
enlisted it seemed all a horrible
dream. I did not realize the con
sequences that might follow. But
I tremble when I think of it.
When do you think you can get
furlough to come and make us
a visit. I heard that the seventh
had been ordered from Romneyto
Kansas but doubt it some
I do hope you will come before Laura
and I start for Oberlin which we
intend doing in a little more
than a month.
But it is growing too dark
to write much more.

Laurie sends love. Please give
my kind regards to Geo. Moore
and all others whom I know. How
does Seth Connenjoy himself was
he married when he was home last

summer? You rem
ember you thought he
would be.