Baldwin Florida
Oct 12th 1864
Miss Bardin
My Dear Mattie, Your most affectionate letter of the 6th inst. has been received and perused with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction. I was very sorry to hear of your sad misfortune, but I hope by the time get this that you will be over that, and enjoying good health. My health is not good, but do not let that trouble you. I hope soon to recover, as I have very good attention.
I have no news of interest to write you at the present time. Our duty is very heavy as there is but four Co's of Cavalry here. We have been looking for the remainder of our Regiment some time. If it was all here our duty would be very light. We are getting plenty of corn and long forrige for our horses at the present time. As to ourselves we are faring rather bad. We get no meat except fresh beef and that in very small quantities. Corn meal we get a plenty of that. Syrup one pint to the week, etc. & so on.
I am very tired of fighting this way. I very often say hard things about our Confederacy and officers. I think if about half of the officers now in the army and in ware houses & ordinance stores was reduced to the rank that we would get along much better. It would be great incouragement to the soldiers. Without some great chang we will lose two thirds of our
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Regiment before Christmas. There is great dissatisfaction among the men. If McClellan is elected it will not probably proove so disastrous. I long to see the dawning of peace. I hope that ere next April we will have what is wished a thousand times every moment. That is peace, when we can all return to our home and once more live in peace and contentment, where we can be with our friends and relatives. Oh Mattie, wer I with you I would be hapy. Please excuse a short letter. I will close with the hope of hearing from you soon. I Ever Remain
Your affectionate &
Devoted Lover,
Albert S. Chalker
When on my lonely watch at night
And naught to comfort me but the stars of light,
And weariness has lulled to rest
All other thoughts within my breast
Then I'll think of thee.
A.S.C.
*Transcribed with original spellings and punctuations.
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