Nashville
Dec 17th 1862
Dear wife
It's with pleasure that I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to you in answer to tours of the 8th which I rec'd in due time and also the one of the 11th which came from there in four days, and I was glad to learn that father was well but it is quite a mystery to me what he is going East for but suppose he knows the reason that I did not answer your letter sooner was that we had to go out on picket the next day after I got it. That was on Sunday and on Monday I started to see whether I could find Samuel. I heard that he was in Gen. Van Cleave's Division but when I inquired at his (Van Cleaves) head quarters they told me that the 74th was not in that division and so I came back without finding him. And yesterday I was on guard, so I thought I would write today but [illegible] me to write this time. But that rebel came up to some of our pickets with a flag of truce and then they had force enough so that they went around our pickets and took them prisoners. They were 2 companies of a Michigan Reg. and today our Co. with three other Cos. are on guard again and I would belong along but I was on guard last night. We have very nice weather this fall but we must expect stormy weather before long. I have not been quite so well since I wrote to you as I had a few shakes of the ague and pain in my bones but I am pretty well again. We got new overcoats about a week ago which came quite good these cold nights to stand guard in.
It is just about like Marietta going away and leaving her house. You wanted to know whether I got that letter that Salome wrote in. I did and think I wrote to her. At present I have not much that would interest her but when you see her you can tell her that I am well and tell her to keep in good spirits. I would like it if I could be at home a while to get up some winter wood and get some fodder for the cow and do some other work that you have to do but that is impossible. I am glad that Edwin is a good boy and I hope that he always will be. I suppose Lillie can do almost anything, can't she, and is little Mary as pleasant as she used to be? Keep the children in good humor as much as possible for if I ever come home which I expect to do some time, I would like to find pleasant and smiling children, and above all a smiling wife. I think I can see you smile now with that pleasant countenance. Do not get downcast or broken hearted for I do not think that our happy days are all spent yet. If I should ever have the good luck to get back, which time I hope is not far distant. They are now fighting in Virginia and I think before long the rebel Capital (Richmond) will be in our hands and that will make quite a difference and when the rivers raise so that our gun boats can run up certain towns, we will make them get up and skedaddle. But the report is that if the army of the Potomac goes into winter quarters, 30,000 of the rebels are coming here to help take Nashville, but they will have a good time, I think, for they will meet General Rosecrans all ready for fight and they will go away with less men than they came with for we have a few gun boats here. I would like to get my likeness taken to send to you if I could and perhaps I can get to town. I bought a pair of gloves for $l.25 but they are not very good. But everything is so dear I would like to buy a rubber blanket but they cost too much. I could not get one for less than 4 dollars and that is all the money I have and I must have a pair of suspenders before long and I cannot get them for less than $l.00. I think I will not answer fathers letter at present for I expect he will come and see you. I have given you most all the news that I can think of so I must bring this letter to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon. I most forgot. We got our pay a week ago Sunday and sent you $75.00 by Lyman Benham who was here about a week. He came with Carly. I got them stamps you sent. No more at present but remain your true and devoted husband until death
George Kryder
to E. S. Kryder and Lillie G. Kryder and Mary E. Kryder and all inquiring friends direct to Nashville, Tenn.
