University of Virginia Library

Letter from Charles N. Tenney to Adelaide E. Case, December 14, 1861

Lest you toss all knowledge
of our whereabouts, I again send you a few
lines. We are well and in good spirits, but
as yet uncertain as to where we shall be
sent. We are now under Brig. Gen. Kelley's
command and he was to come to us yester-
day, but owing to illness he did not come,
consequently we are now awaiting orders.

I must give you a brief account of our
ride from Parkersburg, where I wrote to you on
the 9th. We left that place at 5 O'clock P.M.
in low freight cars. There are three seats
in each car running lengthwise of the car.
Two cars were allowed to a company. Of the
country through which we came that night
I know but little save that is very rough,
amounting even to the mountainous. You can
judge of that when I say that we passed
through thirteen tunnels in twenty-seven
miles. We passed through Clarksburg about
half past three in the morning. Here is where
we left the R. R. when we came into Va.

Just (there isn't that a beautiful letter?)[1] before day light
we passed through Grafton, and just as the silver beams
of morning were scattering darkness away, we were
instantaneously plunged into total darkness; an interval
of several minutes, and as suddenly we emerged into
almost broad daylight. We had passed through a
tunnel seven eighths of a mile in length.

We stopped at Oakland in Maryland and cooked
our breakfast, dinner and supper. About ten A.M. we
again started on, and arrived at Cumberland, Md.
just at dark. Here we were warmly welcomed
by hundreds of Ladies and gentlemen, we re-
mained here about half an hour, and then we
were dragged on by our tireless Iron horse to Green
Spring Run where we now are.

Now dear Addie, imagine yourself a soldier
jolted along for hundreds of miles in a cold uncom-
fortable freight car, night and day, and then when
you stopped be obliged to lie wherever you could
perechance in a cold corner of a car, or perhaps
"en bivouack" by the side of a fire which you must
often replenish, or freeze. Suppose for a moment
you were there situated and you have some idea
of our way of living. We are now without tents
but expecting new ones every day.

But you remember the old adage "there
is no great loss without some small gain."

Although we will have probably less pleasure here than
if we had staid at Charleston, yet I have had an old
wish realized, that of visiting the valley of the
upper Potomac. From Oakland we descended into the
valley. From this point the scenery was delightful
still I think I seen that more beautiful, but none
so grand and wild. Hillsides were covered with
rocks on one side, while on the other they were
covered with fertile fields. Here were abrupt preci-
pices hundreds of feet high and here luxuriant valleys.
I would give much to see this region of country in
the height of Summer.

You would laugh if you could see us, Hal
& I sitting under a straw-stack He engaged in
writing a letter to his friend the "Democrat," and
I one to my friend "the Lovely."

Well. Hal has finished his letter & is now
waiting for me. I don't care: he can wait for me
or go to the other boys. Am I not independent?

I would like to see you now. I suppose you
have sleighing now, do you not? Please take
one ride for me, will you not, and be happy and
joyous as you can. I know you remember me
for I seem to feel your presence every day and
night. I never felt happier in my life than since
I knew you loved me well enough to style your
self my sister; am I worthy of being called a brother?

Hal is now writing another letter while I am done.[2]

Is Laurie well? and your mother and Father?
How is Oil-dom generally? By the bye, I learn of a
new use for Mecca Oil. A Mr. Trowbridge of
Meadville Pa has applied for a patent for a new
bomb-shell. A quantity of Rock Oil is put into
the shell with the Powder so when the shell explodes
the oil ignites and fires whatever it touches.
Novel is it not?

What do you think of the movements of Gen.
McClellan? Is his policy one of those brilliant actions
which characterized the first Napoleon?

And Gen. Halleck too? What do you think
of his grand withdrawl of troops from central Mo?
Perhaps though, as Price's plan is to remove the field
to Kansas. Halleck wishes to lure him back
to Missouri, and severely whip him but he is not
Fremont. I suppose from henceforth you will
anxiously look for tidings from the army of the
Potomac, instead of that of Westim Va. Very natural
though. I hope Gen. McClellan will begin to draw
in the lines which he has so successfully extended
around the Rebels, soon, and if he does you may
look for exciting news from the Potomac.

But I fear this is getting uninteresting to you, if
indeed you can read it all. But perhaps you
will excuse me, and if as Paddy says " If you can't
rade this pleze sent it back."

You will write soon, will you not? and
direct your letters to me in leave of Capt. Arper,
7th Ohio Reg't. Valley of Virginia Via Cumberland.

When you write, please write me a good long
letter and remember you are writing to one
who loves you dearly, and would if necessary die for
you.