University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, February 3, 1862

How thankful I was
tonight, when handed you dear
letter, and then the dear thoughts
- your own thoughts - my darling - that it
contained. Also the beautiful sketch
which you sent me. Thanks, are but
a poor recompense for such treasures
but you know they are the best I can
afford. "these hard times".

Do you think these beautiful days
(although it has not been as pleasant
to day) weary and monotonous? Bless you
my darling, I had thought them

very, very short and pleasant. There is
but one thing which keeps me from being
truly happy, and that is the return,
of that one who is dearer to me than
life. Why should I not be happy now,
dearest, happy in your love, but there
is an irresistable desire within my
breast, for your presence, which I can not
conquer. and yet I am happy as the
word is generally expressed and yet
I can no say that I am really con-
tented. I sometimes feel as the little
riverlet appears. It seems to know
that there is a large body of water
waiting and anxious to receive it,
Thus it is with me. I seem to think
that there is a nobler better being,
whose love is a strong unceasing tide
waiting for the time when he can
call me his own. Therefore I can
scarcely keep from wishing that time
(not water) would flow more swiftly.
So you received the picture did you? I felt quite flattered when I read your
thoughts if it. Indeed dearest I think
you must have forgotton how your
Addie looks for people told me here
that the portrait was - prettier than the
original and - was I foolish.... I
believed it. Can it be that I have
changed so much since last June?

I confess I feel changed for circumstances
have transpired since then which have
cruelly and deeply wounded my pride.
But I will not fill up these lines
with gloomy thoughts.

Dearest, what frightful reports came
to town this morning that there had
been a battle on the Potomac and
forty thousand southerners killed and wounded. I
was over to Miss Leaslie's when I heard
of it. I sprang and uttered some
exclamations, I know not what, and fell
back, Oh! heavens! the agony of that mom-
ent. The boy that brought the report
said that the Seveneth suffered the
most of any of the army. Dora was frightened
at my paleness. She, dear good girl,

"would not belive one word of it" "It
was all false, just told to frighten folks
" How I thanked her for the little hope she
breathed to me. My excitement soon fled
and tonight I too can repeat
her words for the paper contains no such report
At that moment I dared not breathe my
fears but she read them and tried to quiet
them. By the way Charly you remember the
playful little title I.... to designate
her by "My wife" she will not allow one
to hold one now she says she has obtained
a divorce because..... But what an interesting letter I am
writing to you am I not. How sorry I
am that the officers are resigning in the
Seventh. I certianly do not wish to

Hal is in Warren again
studying. would that you too
were there my darling