University of Virginia Library

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

Will you think
me very foolish if I write again
so soon? You will not when I tell
you the reason.. You remember in
my letter written a few days ago
I told you I had not heard from
you for some time. and in consequence
was feeling quite badly, Well darling
I am now happy as ever,-aye
even more so.. for hope ever cheering
whispers to me that I may soon see
--who? My Charlie? Yes indeed truly mine
Laurie and Pappa how nice pap-pa sounds came to see me
yeasterday and brought me your dear
letter of the 25th that was what

made me so very happy. Not, dear
that I am happy because your health
is so impaired that you deem it
doubtful about your being able to go
on with your regiment (for such dearest
I feel to be the case. although you
dread so much to tell me) but
then you know the thought of once
again seeing you the thought of
hearing the gently words. "My own Addie"
Do you anticipate my wish with regard
to your getting discharged? I was so
happy I almost forgot to tell you of it.
How very kind in you to write to me and
ask my advice, but truly darling I do
not know how to give it. fearing that
I may do wrong, but I will tell you
my thoughts, Your health I know is very
much impaired. or you would not
think of accepting a discharge.. and such
being the case, you are not now in
a position where it has much of a
chance for improvement.. for you are so
constantly employed in the office that
you certainly have but little time for
exc[rcise?], Do not think that I mean
the positiong you are now in is worse
for your health. that constantly marching
camping out e'ct; by no means, but
then you know in order enjoy good
health you must take a good rigorous
exercise every day, and that I fear you
can not now do besides the work you
are now engaged in must of necessity
be very tedious both to the mental and
vital organs., Writing .(if I understand you
rightly that is your chief employment) is
hard work at any time. and how much
more so must it be where it is followed
day after day, And then love. you as
well as Hal have informed me that you
are very anxious to pursue your studies,
and now is the time if ever. We are
both young yet but not many years
will we wish to remain as we now are--
we will want to be all to each other,
And I am striving to become worthy truly
worthy of thee my noble Charlie
Were I a true woman I expect I should
tell you to remain if possible and defend
our country. but love. I can not. the sacrifice
is too great.. our separation has been so long
and such constant fear and anxiety has
been borne so very long I feel as if we both
need rest, Will you wonder what has become
of my patriotism? It is all here yet. but
I feel as if you had done your duty faithfully
just as I desired you to do it,

You have my advise dearest. but if you
think it not right throw it away. do not be
guided by it if you can not consc[?]ensiously
do so, I may possibly endure a little longer
and trust in God as heretofore. but I have
found it very hard,, As I told you before I
am so fearful of doing wrong. that I know
not how to act,, but darling please. if you
can with a feeling of right (and I do not
doubt but that you can) accept a discharge,
and then fly to old Trumbull- to Farming=
ton., Why Charlie just the thought makes me
almost go into ecstacies But darling I
have written on this subject longer than I have
really had time as it is now study hours.
but I thought I must write and if possible
hasten your coming, but I must not anticipate
too much pleasure or I may be disappointed
[continues in margins]
you ask me all about Thanksgiving. and I guess I did my duty as far as
the consumption of "goodies" is concerned. How often I thought of thee darling
wishing that you could be a sharer in the sup sumptious feast which was
placed
before
us,

But[1] I will particularize when you come home, I have not time now
How very strange that you do not hear from Hal., He wrote you before
going to Michigan and sent you quite a supply of stamps, (I do not know
how many) and he said he shoul[d]
write again in a few days,
I do not see why you do
not reciece them,
Darling I have an oppor=
tunity of sending this to
the office and therefore
must quite reluctantly
close, word love
Come home ever thine

Addie
Carrie asks if she may
be allowed to express a
wish that we may soon
see you,