Camp near Fayetteville Tenn.
July 29th 1863
Dear and affectionate wife
I take this present opportunity of writing to you that I am still enjoying good health and hope this letter may reach you the same. I recd. your letter of the 19th and 20th last Sunday evening and I was much pleased to get an answer to my letter so quick, and that you were all well.
You will know by my last letter which I wrote last Sunday week that we were to Huntsville, Ala., but the next day we marched back to Salem Tenn. Last Monday morning we got our pay for four months and went on Picket and yesterday we came to this place so I had no time to write sooner. And we got a draft on the Norwalk Bank and Henry sent it to Mr. Trimmer to draw the money and give you yours. I sent $45.00. We have very warm weather at present but I suppose it is warm in Ohio, too. We have a nice breeze nearly every day so it is not so unpleasant as if it was sultry as it is in dog days in Ohio.
You say you are sorry that I am still going farther south. I should think you be glad that we are victorious and drive the Rebs farther off, for when they are once all whipped and we ready to come home it will not take long to go one or two hundred miles farther, so keep in good cheer as long as you hear that I am well for I never had better health than this summer. All the complaints I have had was jaw-ache. Last week my jaw commenced swelling and it gathered and broke Sunday night and now it is well again.
Do not feel alarmed about their having riots in the north for there are only a few lawless cowards, but the laws must be enforced.
I am out of stamps again. Please send me some in your next letter.
Henry and the boys are with us again. Henry is well but he has not heard from George for a long time, but he seen in a paper that the 34th just returned from a raid and perhaps he had no chance to write. We seen in a paper that Lorenzo was shot through the leg. They were in a hard fight. I think hard fighting is about done for all the big officers have gone to Washington and I think the war is about over.
I hope you and Mariette will agree for you can just as well live together as not and will not be so lonesome for you both. I am glad you have a good garden, for a good garden is half the living. I have very poor ink here. We can not buy any but fluid and it does not flow worth anything, but I guess you can read it. We are camped on the bank of Elk River and it is a nice place to swim and wash ourselves. We have a nice camp. I am glad you can draw money from the town for every little helps. Have you forgot to send me your and the children's likeness? I would like to have had them but if it is not convenient for you to have them taken, you need not mind. I have not heard from Samuel in a long time not since we left Murfreesboro, and I wrote Ezra a letter, but have not got an answer. He may be dead for all I know. I hope I can come home and help you eat some of your cherries and jellies. This is very pleasant weather for we have a nice breeze nearly all the time. I have given you about all the particulars I can think of, so I must close in hopes of hearing from you soon. No more this time. I still remain your true and devoted Husband
George Kryder
To Elisabeth Kryder
