University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, 22 September 1862

I am going to write
you a good long letter to day. for I expect
it will be the last one I shall write you
while I remain in Claridon, (Charlie Charlie
make Dora go away, she is emphasizing
my "good letters"..) So you thought my
letter of Aug, 18th short did you dear?
I am sure I know not what I on
the lengrh of it, but I guess this will
be long enough to make up for past
deficeincies. I am going to answer your

dear letter of the 9th in every particular,
so here goes. certainly I will forgive you
for writing on such poor paper, but do not
think that I care for the paper, no. no. if
your's are only such dear kind letters are you
only and always do write, they will be a precious
treasure to me. even if writeen on poor paper
remember I am thankful for even one word from
you. come what way it may, (My hand trembles
this morning for some reason. I guess it is because
I have been walking.) I was very glad to learn
that your health was so good. I sometimes won=
der why it is that you retain such good health
while others, who evidently enjoyed just as good
health as you when they entered the service. have
come home many of them with shattered constit=
tions. others--to die, Yes darling, I have often
very often wondered at this, and while thus
wondering, evne my rebellious heart looks up
with a sweet assurance and murmurs, "God
is very good" May you still continue to recieve
that blessing. for blessing it is
I was pleased with the resume. you gave me.
In reference to your diet. you have something
new for breakfast every moring do you not?
Coffee. meat. and crackers. also crackers meat
and coffee, quite a variety. nevertheless I am
fearful that i should soon become tired of it.
Time must pass very wearily with you. would
that I could pass spend a few hours with you
daily. in useful and interesting conversation,
But think you not love that. with me time
also passes very wearily? The same weary waiting.
watching with longing eyes for the time when
peace shall be restored, and. Charlie can come home
to--me. May God preserve thee darling. till that
hope shall be realized.

In speaking of your Gen's they also have to "run
the gauntlet" of a rigid criticism here in the north
The late movements in Maryland and Virgin-
=ia have thrown a different aspect over military
matters. Those who have always believed in
McClellans loyalty are perfectly jubilant while
those who have showered the most abusive

invectives are sullen and silent looking forward
and almost wishing that McCllellan may be
defeated if and brought to sidgrace if for nothing
more than to prove that their former assertions
were not wholly untrue.. How does "Night Hawk"
take now. I enjoyed quite a hearty lauch over
that "scandal" and especialy over that "adored
mustache." You say you wish I could hear the
rumors of the army for one day, I can not say that
I have any particular desire to hear them for the rumors
here keeps me in a perfectly whirl of excitement
indeed I believe if I had not been a girl of pretty
strong mind I should have been whirled our of
the state of Ohio, for many men (and you know
they are of stronget mind than the women) not a bit of it Dora have
been seen "whirling" for Canada as fast as their
feet could carry them, and did not stop
till they were saluted whith, "Have you a pass"
Then their consternation is wonderful and even
laughable to behold. You ask me if I am not
fearful some daring rebel will not make a
raid up into good old Trumbull Co.? No,
not a bit. If they did I am certain that they
would meet with such a reception--perhaps of
cold lead, that they would soon have to retreat
to the sunny south again to obtain warmth
enough to keep them alive. Old Trumbull has
enough men to stand her ground against quite
a host of rebels yet, and when her sons fail
her daughters will then take the field. there
are enough and brage hearts left in Ohio
yet to defend her soil, and it will be defende[d]
if it is at the cost of losing every boy al man
of which she can boast. Oh! it would have
done your heart good to have seen the
men starting. with musket. shot-gun or any
thing defensive which could be found.
for Cincinnati when the startling news
arrived the the "Queen City of the West" was
being shelled. Little boys of the age of ten or
twelve years, would run with determined
countenances and ask, "Mother can't I go and
help fight. Husbands and fathers would leave
their homes and families, with hearts too
full for utterance to repeat the word "Good-
=bye." exclaming "a rebels foot shall never
desecrate our own our beautiful Ohio."
While others.--painful sight. would shudder,
stand back and sullenly exclaim. "Enough
with out me" But I am happy to say that
there were but few of this latter chaps. Soon
the joyful news arrived that the rebels were fast
retreating. and those who had left their homes so
hastily were permitted to return again.

Oh! Charlie: Laura has just come and I am

compelled to close I will write again
as soon as I get home My love to all
and write soon to your own