University of Virginia Library

Letter from Charles N. Tenney to Adelaide E. Case, 1861 October 1

You will doubtless
think I mean you shall
have enough of my nons
sense but perhaps it will be as
heretofore, you may not get this.
However, I will address you once
more. "I am well as usual, and hope these
few lines will find you the same," and having
a few moments liesure I improve
the same in writing to you.-There,-
cant I tell a thing two or three times
if any one can? It would be a
pleasure to me to be in Mecca,
to-day. I could enjoy my self, "right
smart, I reckon" and the Virginians
say. Mecca, I suppose is not so
lively now, as last year at this
time. of course the War produces its

awful effects even in Oildom, does it
not? I, you percieve, am off the
boat now, the Valley has become so
quiet as not to need a guard, so
we came off last Saturday

Charleston has been the scene of
great excitement, during the past
few days. Last Thursday, it commen-ced
raining, and it rained heavily, too.
till Friday night. Then the River
commencing to swell, it continued rising until
Monday morning. and the whole town
was submerged, whole houses were
carried away and every person in town
suffered more or less. It is painful
to go through town and see the
devastation every where visible. The place
was a second Venice, the people went
about not in gondoliers, but canoes
skiffs, and on floats. I went
yesterday.- the waters have nearly

subsided now--to one of the houses
to assist a "secesh" lady to remove
her goods, and we found the furniture
nearly ruined. A splendid new piano
stood in the Parlor, and it is almost
spoiled, I would not now give one
sixth of the original cost for it. Splendid
paintings were entirely ruined. Oh!
it is too bad but it cannot be helped
The more superstitious say it is on
account of the war in which we are
engaged the it was sent as a judgment
upon them, and I have no doubt
of it. At the house where I
went, there was a very pretty young
lady, (not as much so as Addie though)
by name of Helen Caldwell, on see-
ing the ruined state of her piano
and music burst into tears and exclaimed
"I did not care so much for my ward-
robe, but my poor piano", It was poor"
It is feared much harm will
be done down on the Ohio at the
different towns but I hope not.

I do not know when we shall
leave here. I hope before long. for it
is getting rather unhealthy here.
and in fact it would be much
better if we should move.
Hal's health is good & he is now
acting Adjutant here, as Adj. DeForest
is at Ganley Bridge. Capt Asper
is now on a furlough home and
consequently Lieut Wood is commandant
of the Company. Some thrity of our
men are now at Camp Ganley
under command of Lieut Robinson of
Co. G. I do not know why they went
or what they have to do. Co's B & D
went down to Pt. Pleasant to lay
a telegraph. to day. But you will
consider this more as a newsletter
than a letter of friendship or regular correspondence.
I am very glad you promised to correspond with me, for it is a source
of much pleasure to me I cannot forget the many kindnesses you showed
me while at your home (I almost feel as if it were my home)
I often wish my sister would evince as much feeling and interest in my
welfare as you have already shown, but though I have written two or
three times to her and the rest of the family
I can get no reply whatever. The last
time I wrote I told them "I could write
no more unless they thought enough of
me to answer my letters." Now Addie
what do you think and what would you do?

Hal[1] is a brother to me and has been ever since I became acquainted
with him. He is so kind and good. I don't wonder you love him.

I hope for his promotion soon. and I think he soon will
be will recieve one too, surely, no one
deserves it more. than he does. He is already the pride of the Seventh Regt
Do you know James Beebe? he joined this
company under the three month[s?] enlistment
What is he doing now? Is he at Mecca now?
The company did not like him very well for some
cause

And[2] Stephen Bishop too. You know his folks. do you not? How are they now? Some how
to me it seems as if he does not care for them as he ought and indeed I have heard vague
rumors that he did not take proper care of his family. Is this true?