Camp near Corinth Miss.
May 25th, 1862

My Dear Wife,

It is with the greatest pleasure that I now take my pen to inform you that I am well again and hope these few lines may find you all well and in good spirits, as I am. I received your letter yesterday of the 11th which gave me much pleasure and satisfaction to learn that you were all well but sorry to learn that Salome was so afflicted. And it made me feel bad that you was so lonesome there, which I know very well is the case but we must not despair but keep up courage and hope for the better.

You say that I must not get discouraged which I don't. I feel confident enough that you will be true to me to the last hour, but you must not get discouraged and think that I have forgotten you, which is not the case. There is not an hour when I think, but I think of my loved ones at home. You say that you wish that I was at home again which I myself would not regret, but I hope the time is not far distant when we may again meet each other never to be parted on such an occasion as this. You say I do not know how lonesome it is there alone. I can well imagine, but no one can tell what a soldiers life is, only those that have tried it. But do not feel downhearted on my account for I feel quite well and we fare better than we did a while back.

You said that the weather was beautiful, so it is quite cool and pleasant now although we have had very hot weather for several weeks. I am glad that Edwin likes to go to school. Tell him that I said that he must be a good boy and learn as fast as he can and he will make a smart man. You say that little Mary is so fat and pretty and say that you wish I could see her, which I wish myself but it is out of the question at present. You said that I should tell Henry to write to you. I have told him but he don't write much to anybody. You ask me whether Albert is very sick. He is not but has a hard cold. He has written to Angelia a few days ago. Do not trouble yourself about me when you do not hear from me but write and always address to the last place I told you and it will follow the regiment where we go. I will write to you at every opportunity and tell you where and how I am so do not trouble or make yourself sick as Angelia does for it would not better the case one bit. Captain Gaylord is sick and is going home tomorrow on a sick furlough and Lieutenant Center has been home ever since we left Nashville and his health is very poor and Lieut. Goodnow is sick and is going to the hospital tomorrow so we are without a commissioned officer at present but hope they may return soon to their duty again. I think I can send my letter by the Captain. They say that the mail will not leave till after this battle which they say will be commenced tomorrow morning, but we do not know when it will commence. You stated about having your garden plowed and it being hard work to plant potatoes and make the garden. I wrote to you in my last letter that I thought it imprudent for you to slave yourself to make a garden among those roots, that you could buy a few vegetables and pay for them by sewing easier than dig among those roots. But I will now say that if you have a good beginning for a garden and have done a good deal of work, do not let this discourage you to lose the labor that you have done. There is in my opinion on that subject.

That bottle of bitters that I bought has helped me very much. It gave me an appetite so that I can eat almost anything. Perhaps you will get this letter before the one I wrote last Sunday. That is, if they have stopped the mails. You say that it relieved your troubled mind to write to me. It relieves my troubled mind to get the letter so I think you had better write pretty often but use your own time and you will suit me for I think you have been pretty faithful so far and I know that you will always write to me when you can. You say that you have so much on your mind and say that you wish I could help you carry some of it. I wish I could but I trust that you get along with the children as they are small and under subjection if you will only think so. You say that you must not complain but bear it patiently. You say that you cannot help crying which I am sorry for but do not trouble yourself. I am glad that you and Mariett get along well and hope it may continue on so long as you have to live together.

I have not much more to write but one thing I most forgot. I wrote to you that I sent my fine shirts home but the box did not go, so I have them here yet, but wish they were there as they are only a burden to carry as I do not wear them at all. And while they were packed in the box, they got wet and mildewed.

I went to Hamburg Landing on the Tennessee River about 15 miles and was quite tired when I got back. I went with a team and we lived pretty well while we were gone. Today Henry went down so he will not have a chance to write. He is well with the exception of a hard cold which he has had for most two weeks. James Benham is quite unwell. He is bodyguard for General Garfield. Charles Benham is bodyguard for Col. Waggoner. I must close my letter to go on dress parade or preaching we do not know which but I will find out. Write soon and direct 3rd O.V.C. CO.I. Woods Division Camp near Corinth Tenn.

So good bye, George Kryder
To Elisabeth Kryder

It is evening and I have been over to another Regiment to meeting and I heard a short but good sermon and this evening it looks like rain and I think that it will rain tonight. You have long asked me to send you something from the far south and I have some cotton seeds that I can send which I think will be some curiosity to you and many others. Henry received a letter from Centerton this evening but he is not here to open it so we do not know who it is from or what news. We have Company cooks at present in the regiment and do not cook by messes any more. The boys got so reckless that the cooking was not half done and the surgeon thought that was the reason there were so many sick, and he issued an order that they should not cook by messes any longer but should have Company Cooks detailed to cook twenty days to a time and they do pretty well. I believe I have given you nearly all the particulars. I must close now in hopes of hearing from you soon and that this may find you all well and in better spirits. Do not weep for me before I am in the ground for it will not relieve your mind much if any. Be of good cheer and hope for the best. No more at present but remain your true and devoted Husband until death.

George Kryder
To Elisabeth S. Kryder and all inquiring friends
Good bye. Write soon.