The following letter was sent to me for transcription by Cody Dillman who purchased it recently in an auction. It’s a highly unusual letter—if authentic—because it rather explicitly reveals an incestuous relationship between the author and the recipient of the letter, Miss Charity Parker, who we learn was his sister. The author only signed his name “Isaac” and we don’t know for certain whether he was a full-blooded brother or a step-brother. It’s possible that Isaac’s last name was not even Parker.

I began the search for the author’s identity by attempting to find a Charity Parker in Intercourse, Pennsylvania in the 1860s. I struck out. I looked for an Isaac Parker from Lancaster county who may have been a soldier in the Civil War and also struck out. Since the letter was datelined from “near Atlanta” I concluded it must have been written in 1864 and the number of Pennsylvania regiments serving in Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign were few in number—less than a dozen. I could not find an Isaac Parker and a Charles Potts (Isaac’s comrade) in any of these Pennsylvania regiments. Of course it’s also possible that they may have served in another state but I consider this unlikely.

I have only photographs of the letter and envelope to examine so I can’t conclude anything with certainly but my hunch is that the envelope is real and originally had only the name “Miss Charity Parker” written on it along with the “Courtesy of Rev. Hill” written in the margin. If the letter is fake, whoever wrote it most likely also wrote the “Intercourse, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania” on the envelope. The letter itself varies considerably in handwriting style and even the ink varies. I would not trust it to be genuine.

Having shared my research and thoughts with Cody, he encouraged me go ahead and publish the letter with the hope that someone may wish to pursue searching further for the identity of this soldier.

Transcription

Near Atlanta

My Darling Charity,

With haste this missive is written. The night has brought the parting from this life my dearest comrade, Chas. Potts. The surgeons could not amputate his most private of parts. Would that I could have given mine for this lad I loved so! You, my heart, would have made this sacrifice of the staff of life that has brought us so much joy. Yes, your golden cave must even now be warm and moist in anticipation of our next embrace. Be true for me my darling and once again—soon—we shall soar to the celestial planes of Eros together.

My officer calls us now to muster. Farewell my own true heart of hearts. You know not to read this most feelings of thoughts to Mother. All of my love always, your brother, — Isaac