Sheppardville, Kentucky
Oct. 5th, 1862

Dear Wife

It is with the greatest pleasure that I take this opportunity of writing to you to let you know that I am yet alive and well and have been for a long time, and let you know that I received three letters from you but before I could answer two of them, the mails were cut off by the rebels so that I thought it useless to write. I rec'd. one at Murfreesboro, Tenn. and I answered that one right off and then I did not get anymore till the day before yesterday I was to Louisville and there we got some of the mail but it contained nothing for me. But I saw John Hawn there and he gave me a letter from you with your picture and you could not imagine what pleasure and enjoyment it gave me. I was so animated I hardly knew what to do with myself and I cannot express my thanks to you on paper for it and I would have sent you mine but I did not have time to have it taken. It was the third day that I was carrying dispatches and I had to go back to the Regiment which was 2O miles and I did not get the letter till nearly sundown and then we had to go back and it was 12 o'clock till we got back. And yesterday we came to this place a distance of 16 miles and 22 miles from Louisville. We have had a pretty hard time for the last month. We were on a march or on a scout all the time since we left Woodville, Ala., the 1st of Sept., but we are nearly all fat and hearty, although we lived on half rations most of the time, but now we get full rations again. Henry Libe came back again. I saw him at Louisville the other day. There are a lot of them there with the teams and he is there yet.

I have to stop and read another letter from you I have just rec'd the one you wrote since you came back from Greenfield. I got the letter with 6 stamps and I got the one that had the thread and Henry got a letter from George yesterday and one from Angelia and one from each of them today and George is well and Henry is well and is now writing to Deal [?]. The teams are just coming into camp with hard crackers and the boys began to cheer and yell that one can hardly hear their own words. They all feel quite merry. I am sorry to think that you trouble yourself so much about me. Only live in hopes for I will come as soon as there is an opportunity. We expect our pay soon, and then if there is any chance, I will come, but it is not certain. But I do not think that we will get in any large battle because we are most always kept for guarding trains. Our regiment and the 4th O.V.C. and the 5th Kentucky guarded a train 20 miles long from Bowling Green to Louisville and Gen. Bragg had his cannon ready for us but we went a different road and slipped by him without injury and got through all safe. And now the report is that our men have him surrounded so that he cannot get away and our men are doing fine work in Virginia. I must close for it is getting dark. I would like to send my likeness if I had a chance to have it taken but you will be contented with the one you have, I hope, for it is impossible to have it taken at present.

I have a great deal more to write but have not time, and when I do not write, you must not feel uneasy for I write every chance that I can. We have plenty of persimmons down here, which is the best fruit that I ever tasted. So no more at present, but write soon as you get this and direct to Louisville, Kentucky. I remain as ever, your true and devoted
Husband
George Kryder

To E. S. K. and all inquiring friends
so Good Bye