Camp Standley near Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Feb. 15, 1863
Dear Wife,
I am again endeavoring to communicate to you on paper that I am well and hope these few lines may reach you all well and to enjoy the comforts of home. I will tell you that yesterday I rec'd. your letter of the l9th of Jan. after waiting so long, as I had no letter from you since the 11th Dec and I wrote I three or four letters to you, and I began to feel uneasy about you but you can not imagine the pleasure it, gave me to hear from you once more.
You stated that the Rail Road was torn up and letters would not come through but I would say, send your letters and they will come by river if they can't come by Rail Road and you said that you had about $80. and said that Hartman and Bebee had paid you but did not say anything about the money ($75.00) that I sent you on the 8th of Dec. nor did you ever say anything about the money $15.00 that I sent you from Woodville by Mr. Warner. Now after this, if you do not get the money let me know it. Or if you get it do the same and not let me wonder or worry to know whether you got it or not, for I know that I wrote about it in my letter of Dec. 31st and two other letters that I have written since I wrote one on 8th and gave you most of the particulars and have not much news this time.
I wrote to you that I seen Samuel and saw a letter you wrote to him and he was not very well at that time. I have not been very well for four or five days. I had the diarrhea, but I stopped it with pepper sauce and now I feel as hearty as a buck and I would like to send you my picture, but it is not here as it is in the north that there is no Daguerrean office about here that I know of nearer than Nashville. You wanted to know what Henry does with his money but that is more than I can tell you for I never asked him and he never told me as he does not want everybody to know whet he does with it. And I think it would have been better if George would have kept it still about his money. You said that you was glad to have me write often and I think that you might write oftener than you do for I know that your letters are just as welcome as mine and you have no excuse for not writing oftener for it does me good to hear from you every week, instead of that it has been two months. But I hope I will hear from you oftener.
You say that I must be brave. I will be as brave as my courage will permit and if the rest do the same we will get along. You want to know if I have stockings and such things. I have all that I can take care of. I have very good clothes my bill of clothing for the 1st year is about $42.00 and some of the other men have $80. or $90. charged to them and do not go any better dressed than I do but they throw them away before they are half worn out and then draw new ones. You want to know how often I wash my clothes. I did wash and change my clothes every week and now we have a negro that cooks for us and he does our washing very well. We are allowed three cooks to the Com. and they are to be paid by the government. You want to know whether I can chew and smoke as much as any of them. As for chewing I have never come to and never will, but I have done some smoking and found it hurt me and so I quit it. I will not get mad at anything that you want to know of me. This would be a poor time to get mad at each other, for I can take any joke that you are a mind to give. You say that I never smile. Yes I can smile and laugh. We have a merry times among us and as for cheering up I will say, take that on yourself for I fear you worry too much which will not help the case. Keep up courage and hope for a better time to come, as I think it is not far distant.
We have had very little cold weather this winter and scarcely any snow yet. None to lay more than two or three days. About two weeks ago I shot a rabbit with my revolver coming in from picket and it made a good dinner for a few of us and we have chicken every little while and hams nearly all the time, and we are going to have sweet potatoes and ham for dinner with flour gravy. I am about out of postage stamps and if you can, I wish you would send me some. Well I have given you most all that I can think of now so I will come to a close in hopes that this may reach you all well. Write soon. No more this time. This is from your true and loving husband
George Kryder
Write soon and direct as before to Murfreesboro, Tenn.
My love and respect to all inquiring friends
Good Bye
The talk is now that we are going to get 4 months pay next and if so I think I can send you about 45 dollars.
