Civil War Union Letters
A Female Civil War Union Soldier from Maine Has a Baby While on Picket Duty One Year After She Entered the Army
April 12, 1863-Dated Civil War Period, Remarkable Content Letter From a Brevet General Mentioning A Female Soldier -- Who Had Been In The Army For A Year -- Who Had A Baby While On Picket Duty! Choice Extremely Fine.
A remarkable, extraordinary content Civil War Letter written by Colonel Clark S. Edwards of the 5th Maine Infantry to his wife in Bethel, Maine. Here, informing her about a woman named Mrs. Lindsey who had dressed like a male soldier, having served in the Union Army for one year, and then gave birth while on Picket Duty! Dated, April 12, 1863, this 4 page, Autographed Letter from Col. Edwards measures 12.25" x 8", written in Camp near White Oak Church, Virginia. It is nicely written on clean light blue lined white wove period paper in rich brown ink and is fully readable. It reads, in part:
"He had tried to get the 5th Maine moved out of their present assignment but is finding it difficult as his source in Washington once tried for Colonel Beal of the 10th Maine to have that regiment moved and it did not happen. His source for help in Washington was Senator William Fessenden of Maine. He notes, somewhat out of character, about a certain lady named Mrs. Lindsey who "thinks she is too young for her man... I presume she does not get screwing enough, she is to be pitied... There was a girl who was in a regiment nearby had a baby while on picket. She had been in the army for over a year and was in both the Peninsular and Maryland campaigns... Bully for her!"
How did she hide her pregnancy? Apparently one will never know! Exceptional content, together with its original circular postmarked "WASHINGTON" cancel, tied red 3 George Washington Scott-63, US Stamp transmittal cover. This Letter has extremely rare and important Female related Content with some social commentary of the day, including some sexual comments! We have never before encountered such a Civil War or anything approaching the significance of a Female Soldier having a Baby while on Picket Duty. An exceptional Letter, with extraordinary content worthy of any specialized Civil War, Suffragette or Woman's Liberation related collection.