Albert Chalker Letters

[ColonelBuckwalter]

I was looking around at Florida's war and ran across this; The Albert Chalker Letters.

It doesn't have big things about battles. It's to his sweetheart back home. And like any good soldier he has complaints about the army, the government and some love poems to his lady. I found it interesting and that y'all might too.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

I was looking around at Florida's war and ran across this; The Albert Chalker Letters.

It doesn't have big things about battles. It's to his sweetheart back home. And like any good soldier he has complaints about the army, the government and some love poems to his lady. I found it interesting and that y'all might too.

Thanks for posting these letters. I have been enjoying reading them. To me, letters (or diaries) provide the critical human side of history. These were people, essentially just like us. All too often, people think "history" is about the "marble men," the people who have become like statues or postage stamps, the famous folks. It stops being about real people with real lives just like us. These letters are often as mundane as our own personal lives.

I was reading the one from April of '65 as the war was waning. He was detailed to make shoes and talked about deserters being captured near Waldo. I drive through Waldo, FL along Rt 301 in the middle of the State every time I drive here or drive home as a snowbird. It is interesting to hear it mentioned regarding the Civil War. And I like the one from May 17. 1865 written as he is waiting to catch the train because he is being "pay rolled," which I assume is being paroled. The war is over for him, and he is going home and will be visiting his "love" as soon as he feels well enough. Today is May 16, 2025, and I am in Venice, Fl. The letter was written 160 years ago tomorrow from Baldwin, FL, up between Stark and Jacksonville on present day Rt 301. I feel the heat and humidity of mid-to-late May in Florida that he was probably feeling. I will be heading north myself soon and will be passing places like Waldo, Stark, and Baldwin. Like I say, I like the humanity of history because we can relate to it.

Thanks

 

[Bryce]

I Do not see a link that allows me to look at the letters

 

[Stryker65]

I Do not see a link that allows me to look at the letters

The link is in the OP.