After Falling In Love With A Thirteen-Year-Old He Needs To Get Out Of Town!

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/21/2019

An unusual sexually preoccupied Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by thirty something Pvt. Richard "Dick" G. Ketchum, Co. H, 21st New York Cavalry, "U. S. A. G[eneral] H[ospital], Frederick, Md., June 19, 1865," to his brother concerning his luck among the ladies, in part: "…they don't want me to go yet. They say they cant get along without me…the girls are trying hard to nab me for a husband. There is forty seven of them after me. Yesterday two girls came in and enquired for me but another girl had me to her house. She is [a] very steady girl too and hard working one. She is so small that I could carry her home without setting her down…she loves me better…than any other girls…there is another one whose father is so rich that he wont work and her mother is so fat that she takes off all her clothing but her shimns and hoops…this girl is only thirteen years old and she is as big as Mary. I took her age at twenty six now I think I better leave here…before I starts I think of going to Penn. to see Minnie and her brother…he has come home from Rebs prison. He was as large as John but now he only weighs eighty lbs…it will be six months before he is like he was…I will send you a letter from them…I have so many letters I shall have to burn most of it before I leaved…I have got to drive four horse team for the people here next Saturday to a spree…I wish I had five thousand chickens…I could sell them in Balt. for one dollar per pair…the people here…gets thirty cent a piece for them…Dick." Also included is the original stamped transmittal cover, addressed: "Jesse W. Ketchum…Ontario Co., N. Y." It is not uncommon for the Civil War soldier, either Northern or Southern to discuss romance in their letters, but this guy takes it one step further and he knows it. Minor toning, else VG

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