An 1864 Civil War-era letter recently sold at auction was about a Confederate lieutenant lamenting his brother’s masturbation addiction.

Lieutenant William Dandridge Pitts wrote to the Military Times Watch Post in a letter to the director of the “Western Madmen’s Asylum,” which housed his brother Charles, who had been discharged from the Confederate Army with an obscure illness. wrote report. Lieutenant Pitts inquired about his brother’s well-being, noting that he had a penchant for self-indulgence both in military camps and in psychiatric hospitals.

To this day, one hears desperate cries of “It’s Johnny Reb, not Johnny Love!”resounding throughout the South

1864 Letter Details Confederate Soldiers’ Masturbation Addiction

Story: https://t.co/RB6l2raNx0 pic.twitter.com/NgujXXWjAZ

— Observation Post (@MilitaryTimesOP) July 11, 2023

“I had a little talk with my brother’s doctor before he went to the asylum,” Lieutenant Pitts wrote to the asylum director. my brother’s friends [military] While camping with him, he said he was addicted to masturbation. He (the doctor) is also convinced of this fact from conversations with my brother. ”

The lieutenant informed the asylum administrator in many words that a recent meeting with Charles’ attending physician revealed that Charles’ brother had a tendency to masturbate obsessively. (Related: Taxpayer-Funded Family Planning LGBTQ Youth Club Promotes ‘National Masturbation Month’)

This letter is currently up for bid at: liveaucinteers.com. The title of the letter is “Soldier Addicted to Masturbation”.

Missed this scene at Gettysburg pic.twitter.com/ubfNGEjdaG

— James Toub (@TaubHistory) July 10, 2023

During their time as Rebel soldiers, Charles Pitts’ fellow soldiers were exposed to the sight of estranged soldiers falling into addiction. (Report: Rapper charged with masturbating on plane)

As for his senior brother, Lieutenant Pitts fought in the 40th Virginia Infantry Regiment until he resigned from the post in 1862.