University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, September 10th 1862

Although but two days
have passed since I since I last wrote you yet and as
I have not heard from you for so long a time
I am going to give you some more “spoiled paper”
You must not act upon the principle that the
longer you neglect writing, the oftener I will
write. for it is a poor principle, You do not
know how it grieves me when I do not hear
from you for so long a time. None but Dora
understand the sorrowful disappointed look
which I can not supress when day after
day the same answer “no letter” reaches me,
I can not help at times but feel dejected

and despairing, wondering if God does regard
the prayer which so often ascends in behalf
of that absent loved one, --my idolized Charlie.
But I attach no blame to you darling,
because I know that you write just as often
as you can, so don't think I have forgotten
my promise-- to scold you no more.

Charlie, what will become of our country,
It seems as if the rebels were gaining ground
every day. I am not entirely discouraged
but when we read “ Washington in danger”
“Rebels in force in Maryland” “ Ohio invaded
&c.” it is really discouraging. And then to
see how the people here receive such news-- with
nothing but a remark such as “ Lincoln means
to let them whip us” or “Well when we are
completely lost our troops will begin to act”
never entertaining the idea that they could
be of any help. Why Charlie I verily believe
that there are men here at the worst who,
if they had an opportunity, would surrender
themselves to the rebel army with nothing
but a remark such as “I expected it” or

the like, never dreaming that there is such a
thing as resistance in America “Oh! it makes
me so angry to meet with some whom I have
hitherto conversed with upon the subject of
rebellion. They will come up with that indiffer-
ent air, which they alone can wear so becomingly
and its “W-e-l-l, Miss Case-- don't you think
we're getting ready to take a good licking”?
They will drawl it out and speak it so
impulsively just because of they know I have
always adhered to the fact that our men
never will be conquered. I sometimes find
it difficult to subdue the wish that I
would enjoy seeing them “take the good licking”