Background information and commentary by Andrew Carroll: Last week's letter was a fairly bawdy World War I missive, and when I first came upon it in 2003, it reminded me of a Civil War letter I included in the paperback edition of WAR LETTERS, which features an extra chapter of letters that are not in the hardcover edition. Risque war letters are rare, especially from conflicts of the 19th century, mostly because correspondents in the Civil War were reluctant to use expressions deemed coarse or offensive. But such letters do exist. One Rebel soldier was privy to a whole cache of intercepted Union mail, the contents of which shocked him and his comrades. "The letters, after being opened at the General's Head Quarters and the money and valuables taken from them, were distributed among the men…. All the mail was from home to the soldiers down the Mississippi River,” he explained, “[and] I know it would amuse you to read some of them."

"Very few are from persons of Education and the ridiculous composition, spelling and homely expressions have furnished me with food for merriment for many hours. I had no idea there was so much vulgarity in the letters of wives to their husbands -- some of them are obscene and show filthy, lewd dispositions. Many important secrets are told. I intend to send you a bundle of them as soon as the boys quit reading them…."

The only such correspondence I've seen that actually comes close to such a description (and the one that is featured in WAR LETTERS) is by a Union soldier, and he sent it straight to the president.

Dear Mr. Lincoln,

Eric When this Civil War broke out I went right in I did, and fought and bled for the cause and left my wife and family, and when I came home on furlough last month I found she had been diddling other men and I would like to have a discharge to take care of my children for I won't live with her, and I don't want any of my children to live with her for she diddles all the time, and has got the clap which I have now got too, and I want a discharge to take care of my children, when I get well.

If you do what I say I will for you pray

Yours truly and affectionately,
John N.

The leave was granted.

NEXT WEEK: A future politician who fought in World War II writes about President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and his comments are not what you would expect.