University of Virginia Library

Letter from Charles N. Tenney to Adelaide E. Case, 21 March 1862

Imagine, if you can my joyful
surprise, on arriving in from Strasburg, Pa-
was the fact of my having four letters. "In luck",
said I upon opening them I found three good long
letters from Addie two notes from Laurie and one
good letter from Gail. "It never rains, but pours"
is an old adage, and if true, I may expect some other
good fortune soon, I am at a loss to know how to answer
your triple favor, and my perplexity increases when I
note the multitudinous(horrors! what a long word!)subjects
to write about. I guess I will confine myself to writing
that which contains no public interest reserving
that for the "Chron". Firstly the "grand move" is much
followed up, and is nearly at a "level", and notwithstanding
the 7th was included, we are all safe. My health is excel
lent and trust it will continue so. Gen. Shields
with his entire command moved on the 18th toward
Strasburg. Ha ha! Aint I fortunate? Moore
just came in with the mail, and two more
letters came for "Chas N. Tenney."/ from the other
from N. J. Braden of Gustavus

But to resume– arriving at Cedar Creek. 1 1/4 miles
beyond Middletown, a slight skirmish took place
and the enemy retreated, burning the bridge. In
the morning, we formed a floating bridge, (this artillery
and cavalry finding) and advanced to Strasburg
3 miles distant. Our Reg with the Cavalry were
sent out to skirmish.– We had the exquisite
pleasure of listening to the rebel arty and witnessing
the shells burst. (I will tell all in Chron) There is some
thing exciting in witnessing a bombardment. particularly
when you are among those being shelled. You look
anxiously at the concealed battery, and lo! A puff of
white smoke— you listen breathlessly—a stunning
report, and the shell comes fiercely shrieking through
the air—you cannnot see it, but you follow by the sound
it is directly over you—whizzing—a puff of dense smoke
an explosion and the fragments come screaming
in every direction on their message of death.—a few
seconds and all is over.—you are waiting the
next discharge. I was surprised on seeing such
coolness evinced by our men, while those of the 5th.
near us, dodged at every discharge. It furnished
much amusement for our boys. they have often
boasted of their bravery and coolness.

We remained at Strasburg over night having
chased the enemy some five miles beyond. The next
day we returned to camp.