Correspondence - 1861

September 2, 1861

Murfreesboro, Tenn. Sept 2nd 1861

Dear Wife

It is with pleasure as well as a duty that I write to you to let you know that I am well and harty and hope these lines find you all well and in good spirits. It is a long time since I heard from you and I have been uneasy ever since I got your last letter or the 2lst July stating that you had the ague and a pain in your side which troubled me a great deal. I think I should have had a letter but the railroad was tore up beyond Nashville and the mail does not come through, but have to go by the way of Corinth and that takes a long time for letters to come through.

We have had a pretty narrow escape from bushwhackers. A week ago last Sunday we left Woodville for some place we did not know where but we had to cross the mountains and it was late in the afternoon when we got up the mountain and our team could not get up with all its load so they threw our tent off and the next morning four men and a team of mules [...?] and we got our things and went on after the regiment and about 4 o'clock the tire came off on one wheel and the wheel broke down so we had to leave our things about 8 miles behind and the next morning we started back the second time and went back about 6 miles and saw two men mounted with guns and we took after them as hard as our horses could run for half a mile and we run up to a company of rebels of about 130 and they fired at us but fortunately none of us got hurt but Joseph Stevens horse was wounded in the rump and the rest of the boys turned back and I stayed long enough to see that Joe was not hurt then I turned back and Joe followed about 20 rods and his horse jumped a log and threw him off and he told me to catch his horse but he ran by me and followed the team and the next day evening he overtook us almost fatigued.

The talk is that we are going to Nashville and from there to Kentucky but when we will go I do not know but there is a large force coming to this place and I would not be surprised if there would be a battle fought here before long. I wrote you a letter and sent it with the Rev. Mr. Warner with $l5.00 of money and when we will get our pay again I do not know but I think before long for the Captain is making out our pay roll. I have five dollars yet. We have got our Cavalry hats and they are much better than the caps at Woodville[.]

[T]he peaches were about gone when we left and they are hardly ripe yet here and if we go to Kentucky we will have peaches a good while yet[.] There are lots of melons here and last Sunday we went out to guard a forage train and we had all we could eat, there are lots of sweet potatoes planted of which we will have plenty by and by. Ed never got back about two [?] ago also Lieut. Center with five new recruits our boys are all well and in good spirits.

I wrote to you for some stamps and I have suppose you have sent them but the mail has not brought it yet. I have not much more to write this time but if I could see you I could entertain you all night and all day with news. No more at present but remain your true and affectionate husband
George Kryder
to Elisabeth
do not forget to write direct to Murfreesboro

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