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https://micivilwar.com/authors/chalker-george-n/
Regiment: 26th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Robert E. Lee
Camp near Kelley’s Ford
Nov the 10
th, 1863
Dear Friends,
Again the bright dawn is a shining on the 26th in the valley below the mountains, the
Rapidan and the Rappahannock. I saw one of the most beautiful scenes this morning
that I think I ever saw in my trails and I have seen a good portion of seven states as you
soon shall see. First, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey,
Virginia and stayed one night in the state of North Carolina. Well, I will tell you what I
see that I called a pretty sight. Just as the sun began to dawn on the eastern hills and
reflect upon the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the distance of 25 or 30 miles, you
could take a spy glass and see buildings and several other exciting things at so great a
distance and more than that, the mountains was all covered with snow at a considerable
depth as it snowed a very little here in the night. The Blue Ridge runs clear through this
state and joins the Allegany Mountains at the Pennsylvania line and runs through North
Carolina into Tennessee. The Army is on the advance. Standby. Lee is retreating
before us. The Army says that there will most probably be a battle fought yet this
Fall. I haven’t had a letter from you in some time. Are you all well and how do you all
get along? And how does Lif get along since he got home? I am glad to hear he has
gone home but I am tough and shall try and go through with it as long as I can. I wish
that J. C. & H. L. could go home too. The weather is quite cold. I sent you a few lines
that I wrote with a pencil. Have you got it or not? Well, I must close soon. This from G.
N. Chalker Esq. to Father & Mother & sisters, Locke, Ingham Co., Mich
