Bowling Green, Kentucky
March 14,1862
Dear Wife,
It is with pleasure that I take this present opportunity of informing you where I am and how I am doing. I am at present not very well. I am still troubled with a cold on my lungs and the long time we have been on the road to this place has fatigued me so that my spirits are quite depressed. I wrote to you two weeks ago tomorrow stating that we had marching orders for this place. We had very bad weather and pretty hard time and since we got here (which was yesterday evening) We got orders to march out to Nashville where they say our letters have been sent so that I did not get your letters in answer to mine, two of which I wrote at Camp Wright. I drew my pay and sent you $15.00 by express. I do not feel like writing but I feel it my duty to write to you when I can. I expect to get two letters from you when we get to Nashville, which will be about Monday or Tuesday. I will tell you I have seen some of the nicest places I ever saw before we got to the mountains where it was the awfullest road you can imagine.
Last Wednesday evening we camped within half a mile of the great Mammoth cave, and we went to see it. They charged the soldiers $1.00 apiece to show the cave. They furnished a guide and candles to show one through, but we thought it too much and furnished our own candles and went through on our own troop.
It was the nicest thing I ever saw. We went into large chambers like great halls all arched over with solid rock. We went in about three miles which is not more than one third of the way. It is now raining and it appears as if it was going to rain all night.
I felt very uneasy for about a week on account of a dream I had. I dreamed that I saw you in distress and weeping with your arms around my neck. Now I never believed much in dreams and I want you to let me know whether you are in trouble about yourself or whether you are to be you know what I mean what you wrote me before. Let me know to what Needham is doing about that judgment. If he has not paid it, send him Robinson word to crowd it right through. I thought all along that I would be home by April or May but I don't know now when, but I hope soon as the rebels have evacuated Manasses Junction. They evacuated this place about four weeks ago and it appears that they are losing on every side. Today I have been on their fortifications. They fortified thirteen hills and went away without firing a gun. I am now in town about a mile from camp and I must close as it is getting late. I have much more to write but have not time so dear wife good bye.
I hope I may soon hear from you again direct Nashville Tenn. Co. I 3rd O.V.C.
When I get your letter I will write to you immediately if I could only see you but I can't. No more, but remain your true and devoted husband
George Kryder
To Elisabeth Kryder
When I see little girls along the road I think they are mine but they are not. Let me know how the children are doing.
No more. Good bye Lillie
Write soon
