Camp near New Haven, Ky
Dec. 30th, 1864

Dear Wife

I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hearty and hope these few lines may reach you all well. I just now received your most welcome letter of the 24th and read it with great pleasure but am sorry that you have such a bad cold.

I will now tell you that we left Louisville last Sunday and it has been quite rainy and now it is pretty cold and is snowing a little. We marched to Bardstown in two days and laid there 3 days and this morning we started and marched about 16 miles today. It is now night and I am sitting in my shelter tent and you must not expect a very big letter and I have not much news as we have not much news since we left. But one thing is Gen Sherman has taken the City of Savannah Ga with 800 prisoners, 30,000 bales cotton, 150 large cannons, 150 locomotives, 190 cars and three ships and a large quantity of arms and ammunition and supplies and Gen. Thomas has taken nearly all of Hood's Artillery and a great many prisoners and the news is good everywhere.

I wish I was near enough at home so that I could get our little girls some New Year's presents but they will have to be contended till I get home. That money I sent is in the express office and you will have to go or send for it. You had better go yourself then you can trade if you want to, and I hope you can get that local bounty. It would help you along pretty well.

Jan 1st 1865. I wish you a happy New Year Dear Wife. I did not have a chance to send this letter so I opened it to write a few lines more.

We have been marching these two days and it is very cold weather here with about 3 inches of snow on the ground. Yesterday we marched from N. Haven to Elisabeth Town about 20 miles. This morning we drew rations and marched down the rail road to Sonora Station about 15 miles and the report is that we will lay over here tomorrow but I do not know I have no news at all.

The boys are all in fine spirits. I am writing by candle and I have beans over cooking for breakfast. Perhaps you wonder how we sleep these cold [nights]. We have straw hay or corn blades to spread down, then our Rubber Blankets and then two blankets to lay on and four to cover up with and we sleep warm.

Yesterday there was a Dr. and a Captain of the 7th Pa. cavalry went out about a mile from Bardstown where they were acquainted to get their dinner and while they were in the House a squad of bushwhackers rode up to the house and the officers surrendered to them but the villains shot them dead and robbed them and went off. We are on our way to Nashville but we will not get there in a week. We are now three days march from Louisville.

Well with these few lines I will cone to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon again. Henry read your letter land he said it was too cold to write. No more this time. I am as ever your True and affectionate Husband

George Kryder
To Family, Please write soon and direct as before, so good night