Camp near Rome, Ga.
June 5th, 1864.
Dear beloved Wife:
I take my pen in hand to write to you to let you know that I am reasonable well and hope these few lines may find you all well and in good spirits. My health has been improving ever since we have been on the march and my arm is not quite well yet but it is healing slowly and does not trouble me much any more.
I rec'd. a letter from you at Athens Ala. and I answered it the same day and the next day we started for Decatur and got there about noon went into camp unsaddled and in about two hours boots and saddle call blew and we want out on the Courtland Road after some Rebs that came up there foraging. We charged after them for about 7 miles and took nine prisoners and three wagon loaded with corn and went back in the same camp.
The next morning we started out on the same road with a Brigade of Infantry in advance and they skirmished with them nearly all the way to Courtland but did not have much fighting but killed several Rebs and we had but three slightly wounded. The next day we started for Moulton, that is our brigade, and the Infantry went back towards Decatur and the Rebs followed us up and thought would capture our Brigade. There were 5 regiments and four companies of them and only three Regts of us, the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ohio, and we had two pieces artillery with us and they had 8 pieces and our Co was on picket and when we went out there were three of them following us up to see where we would put our pickets and we charged after them and caught one. And before dark some five or six came up and fired on our boys but done no damage and we chased them away and several times they came up and fired on us through the night and just about daylight they advanced in force and we had to fall back. They brought their artillery and shelled us but done us no damage and on they came with their yells and cheers but they could not scare the 2nd Brigade.
Unexpected as they came upon us it did not take Col. Long a great while to form his line and when the Rebs came down to our lines they run against a circumstance and quit their yelling and our boys commenced yelling and drove them back with a loss of 13 killed and about 60 wounded and 32 prisoners. We had one man killed and 8 or nine wounded and the man they killed had taken 5 prisoners and one of them shot him after he had surrendered. And we had to go to Summerville yet that day 32 miles, so we had no time to lose. Passed through Summerville and crossed the mountains, and it was awful hot and dusty and it settled on my lungs so I had an awful cough, but it is getting better as we had rain for three days but this afternoon is very pleasant and looks like fair weather.
Rome is a very strong fortified town but our men got in the rear of the Rebs and they had to evacuate without fighting much and they are gone to Atlanta with Gen. Sherman close on them and when we make another advance that place will be our and the Confederacy will be cut in two and I think they are getting nearly played out.
We have not had any mail since we were in Athens, Ala. where I got a letter from you and if we get mail here I expect several letters but I thought I would write today, for I do not know when I will get another chance. Henry is well.
With this I will come to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon. I am as ever your true and devoted Husband
George Kryder
To Elisabeth S. Kryder and all inquiring friends,
Please write often and direct to Co. I, 3rd. OVC via Nashville, Tenn. And then they will come to us for I do not know where we will be by that time. Via means by the way of. So Good Bye.
