University of Virginia Library

Letter from Charles N. Tenney to Adelaide E. Case, 1862 January 01

How do you do, this
beautiful day? Did you ever see such
a beautiful new years day in your life?
The day here is as pleasant as the most
delightful day I ever saw in May.
The main things wanted thought, to make me
perfectly happy to-day, are, first a letter
from my Addie. second Hal's recovery
from his present indisposition. He has
not been well for the past few days
and last night he was some worse,
but is, I trust, better this morning
I hope he will soon be able to resume
his duties. He is not so bad however, as
to call in the Doctor yet, and I hope will not.

I have not recieved but one letter since
we left Charleston, and that one was sent
to Charleston first. In it you spoke of not
recieving a letter from me since Capt Asper
returned. Have you not recieved any of
the letters I have written? I sent one from
Charleston, one from Parkersburg, one from
Green Spring Run, and two from Romney
together with a picture of "your's truly"
I have been waiting for Wood to return
hoping he would bring me some tidings
from you, but he does not come, and
as I went in and saw Hal, he asked
me to write home and let you know
he was unwell, so I add one more to
the list of unanswered letters.

I was on picket the other day and had
a first rate time. I send you a hasty sketch
of the headquarter of the outpost where I
was stationed. The smaller part of

the house took fire, in the night, and great
excitement ensued in consequence. Many who
were asleep supposed the rebels had attacked
us, and were very much alarmed.
There is a peculiar sort of excitement
in standing on picket guard that I love
One takes his post in the evening, banishes
all though of comfort rest, and gives
way to his own thoughts, all the time on
the , expecting to hear the click
of a gun lock, the step of an enemy, or,
perchance, the discharge of a gun itself,
summoning him to another world. The
rustling of the breeze through the dry leaves,
(for there is no snow) or the cry of some night
bird calling for its mate makes him
involuntarily get his gun in readiness
to meet the expected foe. Some times
it happens that inefficient men are placed
on a dangerous post, as on the last night
I stood. A man was placed on a post
near mine, and towards daylight he fancied
he saw a man, preparing to make a
hostile movement: frightened nearly to death
he drew up his musket and fired. An
alarm was thus raised needlessly. In
the morning, we visited the spot where
the supposed had stood, when lo, a bush
appeared, having seen it move he shot it.

I made a sketch of some points of
interest, intending to send them to you
but while on picket the other day, they
were stolen. Mr. Davis arrived safe did
he not? Did you get the picture?

But I must bring this uninteresting
letter to a

. Do write soon dear
Addie, for I am so lonesome
Give my kind wishes to all, bid Laurie
and Dora (when you see her) a happy new year for me,
and please accept my love yourself