University of Virginia Library

Letter from Charles N. Tenney to Adelaide E. Case, 1862 February 15

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Your darling letter was received
today, and I improve the first opportunity
to try to answer it. I say try, for I am inad-
equate to the task of making my letters as interesting
as yours, but if they are as productive of happenings
as you persist in saying they are, why, I will give
you any quantity of them. Yours, well, I can compare
them to nothing but angels visits, and like them, I
could wish they were more frequently received.
You may imagine my joy at receiving yours today
it made me happy, for it reassurred me that you
love me, and you know, how that is. Do you not

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Well, to inform you of our "situation." We are now some
three miles from Pawpaw Tunnel on the R. R. (ask- us
on the R.R.)in our tents once more. After a ten day's exposure
to the weather, it does seem good to once more enjoy the comforts
of tented life. I did not know that we live so comfortable in
tents in the winter, but I have suffered more while
living in a house, than I do here; still, the idea of having
but one thickness of canvas between us and the weather,
is - well it makes one shiver to think of it.
Now dont imagine any new horror at our situation, for
if we were in any danger I would inform you.
I know you are anxious to know every particular as regards
my health &c. so I will say that with the exception
of a very slight cold, I was never more healthy in my life
You seldom say anything of your health, do you
enjoy perfect health? Now, you must inform one if you
are well, will you not?

Dearest Addie, have you any objection to
trusting your miniature to my keeping now? In your letter
of June 23d, you say, "I think that where a gentleman
and lady are engaged, then they should change portraits."
We are not really engaged, but may I not hope- nay know
that on the receipt of an answer to this that we are?

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If you consent to - to change portraits, will you say
yes? Mine! be mine, love. I shall be so happy.
This war cannot always last, and I can feel sure
like living then. I am not rich Addie, I had been
so happy, that I scarcely bestowed a thought in that
direction, and I fear I do wrong in asking you to become
mine, poor as I am. yet, I cannot help feeling that I am
not wrong. Are you willing to accept me as I am, a soldier?
dependent upon myself? If you consent, I will strive
to make you all that you wish.

But you will wish me to speak of other subjects
You are not jealous of me, are you, as regards Laurie
are you? Surely you cannot have any objection to her calling me "brother," have you? May I call her "Sister"? and write her
just a line or two?

We do miss Hal very much, but then I do not wish
him back, for his sake, at least, I know Tyler & him
cannot possibily agree. I wish Tyler would follow John Tyler, or at least, would leave the 7th Ohio.

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