Camp near Roseville, Ga.
July 15, 1864
Dear Beloved Wife
I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to let you know that I am well and hearty and hope these few lines may find you and the children as it leaves me.
I have not received any letter from you this week nor last week. The last letter I had was dated June 24th and I answered it the same day and was sorry that somebody was making you so much trouble but I hope you will carry your head up and not let it bother you for it is somebody that is envious in your present prosperous condition, and you must think that they are not the ones to look to for your support and therefore they are not worth minding. So keep up good spirits and think that I am your supporter and I will stand by you as long as I have no evidence of your guilt. So be true and honest and all will be right.
I will now tell you that on the evening of the 2nd we got orders to go on picket (that is Co). I and all the other Cavalry had orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice and at ten o'clock P.M. it was found that the rebels were evacuating their strong position on Kenessaw Mountains and our entire army started in pursuit except the cavalry. We were called in of picket about midnight and marched towards the right till daylight and then went on picket again and about 9 o'clock we were called again. It was right in Shanty Station. We drew two days' corn for our horses and marched back again to the left and front, marched through Marietta and some of the infantry overtook some of the Rebs' rear and there was some skirmishing that day. We went into camp the next morning had reveille at two o'clock. But I forgot. Wilder's Brigade had the advance the day before and had a small brush with the Reb's rear.
I will tell you how we celebrated the Fourth. We got breakfast and saddled up and about 6 o'clock we marched out about 2 miles and dismounted to fight on foot. No's l, 2, and 3 dismounted and no. 4 held horses. We went out about a mile and threw out skirmishers and drove the rebel pickets in and they had a good position on a hill across a creek and when we had formed a line of battle, our Artillery (two pieces) opened on the Rebels in the woods with shell and grape and canister and our skirmishers advanced several times but had to fall back. Co. B had one man shot through the lungs and he died that night and they had another wounded in the hand. How many of the rebs were hurt we could not tell and that night we were reinforced by a corps of Infantry and we (the Cavalry) moved farther to the left and have not had any fighting since. We have had pretty good times since, are in a pretty good country and we draw full rations for ourselves and we go out foraging nearly every day.
Yesterday our battalion went out and got some Rebel scouts and killed two and took two prisoners and we have potatoes, onions and pancakes and honey and we had some eggs for supper and some of the Co. got some hams but my mess did not get any, but we live well enough as it is. I almost forgot that when we came in off our scout yesterday the Reg had gone and we had orders to follow but our horses had gone from 35 to 40 miles so but few of us went out and just now some of them are coming in. Besides all the good living I told you about are blackberries which beats all I ever saw. The bushes bend with their load. The boys that just came say they did not see any Rebs so I am glad that I did not go.
We had the hardest thunder and lightning last night that I ever heard. It struck an artillery casson with shells which exploded and killed and wounded 16 men.
Well, I have given you about all the news that I can think of so I will come to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon. No more at present but remain your true and devoted husband,
George Kryder
To Elisabeth and all inquiring friends
please write soon so good bye.
