University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, March 23, 1862

Do I not deserve - am
I not worthy of a letter from my idol?
This is not a tear.. I hope my tears are not quite so black as that ugly spot I can see no other reason why I do not
recieve a letter. Dear one please tell me in what
way I have offended you for I am sure that
I have. or you would have written ere this.
I have given my letters a review in
my thoughts but do not know what
I could have written to cause you to not
write, unless it was the remark I made
respecting your sending me Miss Holcombs
letters. Dear Charlie I did not intend to

write any thing in that, or any other letter
to alienate your affections from me. Darling
will you forgive me if I have done wrong? Oh,
I can not believe. dearest. that such is the case.
Charlie. would that you knew Addies heart you
would know that she could not willingly wound
your feelings. Two long weeks have fled since I
recieved your last. I more like two
months. I heard that the "3rd Brigade" had
moved but did not learn where it had
gone. nevertheless I shall continue directing
to the "Valley of Virginia" until recieving
instructions to direct in some other direction.
I am at home now. I came home
friday last. "our folks" were quite anxious
for me to come. and I came. Do not
wonder, my darling, that I did not
feel very desirous about coming. for how
could I. but hush! do not allow me
to write to you in a discontented tone.

Do you not think. dearest that the future

contains for us? Ah! I know
it does. "God in Heaven help" me to
become worthy of such a noble heart as
my Charlie possesses. and I must become
worthy. I am not now. but the future
will show what. a determined will can
do. Do you not think it will?

I recieved a letter friday from the
"Learge sisters." Mollie wanted me to rem
- ember her to that correspondent of mine
that bothered her so much when she was
at Auntie's. My dear good auntie! How
much happiness I have enjoyed this
winter. One could not keep from
tender chords of Love from vibrating
sweetly when with her in her pleasant
home. I trust you will know her some
future day..

Your health. loved one. how is that Good
I hope. Mine is good with the exception
of a severe cold. I do not think it

is as bad as when I wrote you last. I
was with Dora then.. I came home the next
day. I felt so bad that I was fearful of
a protracted illness. and thought I had
better come home. Charlie. have you read
Carl Schurp's speech upon "Restoring the
Union by extinguishing Slavery"? It is a
magnificent address.. In it he says - but
stop I will send you the paper that
contains it and you can read it for
yourself.. But it is getting too dark
to write more. May Guardian Angels
watch over thee. my darling is the
prayer of your own Addie