Huntsville, Ala.
July 18th 1863

Dear Beloved Wife,

I take this present opportunity or writing a few lines to let you know that I enjoy very good health and hope these few lines may find you the same. I have had two letters from you since we left Murfreesboro, but I have had no chance to answer but one about a week after I got it and about two hours after I sent it I got the other one of the 28th June. Col. Parmour is dismissed from service [illegible]. We have been on the march nearly every day since we left Murfreesboro the 24th June, and it rained about two thirds of the time, but it was warm so we did not mind it and was not as bad as if it had been dry and dusty.

Now I will tell you about our march. First we went to Bradyville and from there to Manchester, from there to Tullahoma where we expected to have a big battle but the Rebs thought old Rosey would be too much for them and they ran like sheep across the mountains and across the Tenn. River. You will see by the map that Huntsville is about ten miles north of the River close to the line of Alabama and Tennessee. The other day we went to Pulaski and there were about fifty Rebels there and we took 21 of them prisoners, among them was a Chief Quartermaster of Gen. Cheatan's Division. Today the news came that Port Hudson is taken by our men and if that is true the whole Mississippi is open and the confederacy is cut in two and I think the Rebellion is nearly played out. But we cannot tell. Now I will tell you a little about our marching. We have not drawn any rations, for the roads were bad that our teams could not keep up with rations. So we would go to the secesh and get flour, meal, hams, bacon, sugar, molasses, honey, butter, eggs, and potatoes and everything we wanted that we could get our hands on. Day before yesterday we came to a place where they had about 100 lbs. sugar a barrel of molasses and a barrel about two thirds full of strained honey and we took two wooden pails and filled them and took about half their sugar. Pretty soon more soldiers came along and took all the sugar and honey and all the meal we wanted. You better believe we lived well. Yesterday we went out and brought another supply and found some of the nicest peaches you ever saw and our mess brought about half bushel. Now I will tell you what we had for supper. Pancakes and honey, boiled potatoes and ham and boiled eggs. That's the way we live. Our teams came up and we drew some crackers and sugar and coffee and now the report is that we will leave here day after tomorrow but where we do not know. The boys are all in good health and fine spirits. They all feel confident that the rebellion is nearly at an end.

This is Saturday evening and we are going to have inspection of arms and dress parade, so I will have to get ready.

Sunday morning July 19.

I thought I would write a little more this morning but have not much more to write of importance. But the talk that we will remain here sometime but how long we do not know but if you do not hear from me you must not feel alarmed about me for we do not have any chance to send letters very often and the report is now that the railroad between Louisville and Nashville is tore up so that the mail does not go through regular and please write to me often for I will write to you at every opportunity. I have no ink now so I have to write with a pencil but I guess you can read it. Henry says that he does not hear from George very regular. He has not heard from him for some time. Henry is not with us now. One day this week when we (our Co) went out to hunt for horses and mules he got separated from us with four or five others, and if they are not with the rest of the brigade, I do not know where they are. They may be captured but I think not, for it was reported that we the Reg. were going to the Brigade and I guess that is where they went. The Brigade is at Athens about 25 miles west of this. This is a beautiful place, the nicest springs I ever saw. One of our company came here from Gen. Turchins headquarters and he says he saw Henry and the other boys with the Brigade. They are at Athens, Ala.

You wrote that you have $25.00 for the lot in Attica. Now I will tell you that if you cannot get any more than that, take 25 dollars. That is, if he will pay the cash. You can let the money out and it will bring in something and the lot will be off our hands when we want to leave that part of the country. It will be better to have 25 dollars on interest than have that lot lay there on expense and useless.

General Banks took Post Hudson with l8,000 prisoners. HURRAH! for General Grant, General Banks and Genera1 Rosecrans! Rosecrans army has taken over nine thousand prisoners since we left Murfreesboro and they say we did not lose one thousand prisoners. I hardly know of anything more, but I guess that Father got miffed at me, the reason he does not write to me any more but I do not care for I do not want any of his disloyal letters.

I am sorry that America [Fribley, Catherine's husband] is so afflicted with cancer. Tell Joseph [Coxley, Salome's husband] not to come south but do his best to clean out all rebels in Ohio, for I know there are enough of them there and if he needs a gun and the government will not get him one, let him take mine for that purpose.

We can have green corn now, if we want. Oh, how I wish you could have some of these nice blackberries. I could pick a patent pail full in an hour. Lillie, if you had some of these blackberries you would have to bite them in two for one would make too big a mouthful, and some of the nice peaches.

This is about all that I can think of at present, so I must come to a close in hopes of soon hearing from you and that I may see you this fall. No more this time but I remain as ever your true and affectionate Husband,

George Kryder

E. S. Kryder and all inquiring friends
write soon and direct to Huntsville Ala.