Camp near Murfreesboro
April 7th 1863

Dear beloved wife

I now take my pen to write a few lines to you to let you know I am getting along. At present I am not very well although I cannot say that I am sick. About a week ago we got some fresh beef and it physicked me and I have had the diarrhea ever since. And we have just come back from a five day scout and while we were out I took an awful bad cold but a few days rest will straighten me out again for another scout.

Last Friday we started with five day rations to go to Liberty, 30 miles from here where about 6000 rebels were. And that evening we met about five or six hundred and had a little skirmish and the next morning they had retreated beyond Liberty about 2 miles to Snow's Hill (but I would call it a mountain) where they made a stand. And they said there [they] would not a live Yankee get up that hill, though the Yankees were too sharp for them. While some of the force was fighting them in front, the 3rd 4th and 10th Ohio went to the right and nearly cut off their retreat but they had pickets out and gave them the alarm and they sent a regiment out to meet us. The 4th was ahead and they dismounted and a very brisk skirmish went on for about half an hour. When the rebels gave way and our regiment charged after them and in the road lay a dead rebel and my horse jumped over him and there were a number more killed and wounded. The 4th Ohio had one man wounded in the leg and our Reg. had two wounded, one of Co. G's men in the shoulder and one of our Co. in the cheek. The Rebs fled in the greatest confusion losing saddles, blankets, coats, hats by the hundred, guns, saddle bags and satchels and some of the carbines which they captured from our men in Lexington, Ky. I picked up when we stopped a pair of saddle bags with 4 pr. drawers, one calico shirt, and 2 pr of woolen socks and the saddle bags are worth two dollars. In all worth about five dollars. Our Reg. took eleven prisoners, and I heard that we killed 15 and wounded a large number.

Well we came back this side of Liberty and went into camp. Next morning we started toward Lebanon 23 miles from Liberty, went about half way and went into camp. Our Co. was on picket that night. The next day we started for horses. The 4th Ohio was on our right and the 7th Penn to our left and we spread out so That we formed a line about 8 or 10 miles long and every good horse we came to we took along, and we caught a number of bushwhackers that were scattered through the woods and we lived on ham and eggs.

Yesterday we came here and I got your letter of the 29th March and was sorry that you were still troubled with that miserable disease the sick headache, but you must not exert yourself or overdo and perhaps you will not have it so much. I am glad that you got that money. I heard that we are going to get our pay again soon and then I can send you more. You stated Bill Moore wanted to know what you would take for that judgement but you did not tell what he said when you asked him $600.00 If they will pay you six hundred dollars take it but do not take less.

You wish that I had never gone to war. Now I think if you look at it right, you will not wish so, for in the first place it was my duty to come, and by coming as a volunteer I did not have to be drafted and how would we both feel if I had been forced to come. Now I hope you will not trouble yourself about me but think your true and loving husband is doing his duty. We are both suffering more or less though I live in hopes of a better time to come, and you, dear wife, must keep up courage and not worry if you can help it. I know you have a hard place but if we should live to meet again we may spend many happy days and years together.

The talk about us getting furloughs has nearly died down again, but I am still in hope that the war will close before long and then I could come home to stay. For if they will give furloughs they will not be over 20 days and then I would not have a chance to be at home two weeks. But still if I can I will come if I cannot stay more than a week.

You must not worry about that judgement for you do not owe them anything. They can't hurt you. If I get a chance to come home I will try and tend to it. I am glad that the children are well and that Lillie is such a good girl and is so much help to you. You said you was going to have a rib for dinner. I wish that I was there to make it an object for you to cook, for when I am well I have a good appetite.

I think I wrote to you in my last letter that I saw Samuel. He thinks that you gave him particular fits and he takes it pretty well. He gave me the letter to read and by what I could understand, it hit him exactly.

I had a letter from Uncle Jonas and he said that he heard that John was wounded in the battle of Stone River and died in a Rebel Hospital in Murfreesboro on the 2nd of Jan. Uncle sold his farm in Huntington and bought him a small place in Spencer, Medina County.

I have not heard from father since he was with you. I wrote him a letter and perhaps he took offense and will not answer it, but I don't care, for I do not thank him for his discouraging letters. Henry is as well as common. He says his lungs seem to be swelled. The health of the soldiers is generally speaking very good. They are fat, black and saucy and full of fun.

I believe I have given you all the particulars that I can think now so I must bring this letter to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon and that this may reach you all well and in good spirits. No more this time. I am as ever your true and devoted husband,

George Kryder
I have nothing to write to Lillie more than I remember her
so good bye for this time
Write soon and direct as before