[CIVIL WAR]. A group of 3 letters addressed to Samuel Stiffler of Syracuse, Indiana, from soldiers with whom he had previously served in Co. G, Indiana 48th Infantry, containing explicit content related to prostitution and sexual activity.

A group of 3 letters written to Samuel Stiffler in April, June, and July 1862 respectively, two written by Private Thomas I. Overstreet Co. G, 48th Indiana Infantry, and the third written by Private William H. Wilt, 48th Indiana Infantry. Letters discuss in vulgar terms the soldiers' desires for sexual gratification and feelings with regard to the female sex workers. The soldiers also remark on the sexual activity of women in their home community, likely in response to comments made by Stiffler in his letters to his soldier friends still in the service.

[With:] A letter addressed to Stiffler from Private John Long, Co. I, 30th Indiana Infantry, also containing discussion of sexual matters. HDS lists Long's residence at enlistment as Kosciusko County, Indiana, which is Stiffler's county of residence, indicating that the two were likely personal friends prior to the war.

HDS indicates that Samuel Stiffler of Syracuse, Indiana, enlisted on 1/16/1862 as a private and mustered into Co. G, 48 Indiana Infantry. He was discharged for disability at a date not stated. Given the earliest of these letters bears a date of 8 April 1862, Stiffler served for less than three months before returning home.

Content is explicit in nature. More detailed description available upon request.

Property from the Inventory of James C. Frasca