Columbia, Tenn.
Sept. 1st 1864
Dear affectionate wife
I am now seated to write a few lines to let you know that I am reasonable well again and hope these few lines may find you in good health and spirits and that day before yesterday I got six letters, four from you and one from Sam and one from Robert G. Andersen, from Muskingum County. He said he was very much rejoiced to get such an unexpected letter from a volunteer soldier and he sent me seven postage stamps and said his father was going to Chillicothe to the Conference and said he would not be back before the middle of this month and then he wanted me to write them again. And I judge they are good folks and I think I will write to them again.
I wrote a letter to you last Friday and I have not much news to write more than there is some excitement here for fear of about twelve thousand Rebs making for this place under command of Gen. Wheeler but they have not made their appearance yet and it is not likely that they will. We have not got a very big force here but enough to smoke a good many Rebs.
In your letter Aug 7th. you said that Mariette wanted to come and live with you, which I am very sorry for, not on her account but on your mother's, for Mariette is a foolish or weak minded woman that will take the abuse of your mother and the next day be good friends again just to get another turn of her abuse. And if they meet there in your house, which will be the case, YOU will have to take some of her slang that will add anew to your troubles. I think you and Met could get along very well if you were far enough away from your folks so they could not interfere but I know the consequences, but you and her for it I would be pleased yes rejoiced to have her stay there if I thought you would agree for it would be a good comfortable home for you both and you would be company for one another. You may read this to her if you see proper to do so. You said you draw three dollars from the treasury. Is it three dollars per month or year?
I wish I was there to go to church with you that is if wishing would do any good.
In your letter of the 31st July which went I to the front, you mentioned about your nice grapes and thieves. Now I would say that if you get that bounty for you to buy yourself a revolver and shoot the first an that looks into your window after night.
You said Mr. Shamp told you that there were so many soldiers that were starving, but I think that is one of their northern copperhead lies, for our whole army was well fed through this whole campaign and if the eastern army was in a starving condition we would hear of it as soon as Mr. Shamp. You tell me not to fear about you doing wrong. That is the least of my trouble. In yours of July 28th you said you had a good old lady living with you for which I am glad. I cannot write with any satisfaction as there are a couple of men reading and talking politics and that confuses my mind.
You said that Mr. Wheeler's folks was there to see you but did not say which Wheeler. Henry opened your letters that went to the Co. and read them and he wrote a few lines and he said he took out them envelopes you sent me but the one of the 22nd August contained an envelope with stamp. Well I will tell you that we do not live as well as we did. We have not had anything but bread and coffee and boiled meat (fresh beef)and that not salted and they would not give us any of the beef broth and I tell you it would be dry living but we can get peaches and stew them and that makes good sauce and there is plenty of milk to sell for 5 cts per pt. After I got that money I went and bought two lbs. sugar from the commissary at 20 cts pr lb, and got a quire of letter paper and a package of envelopes which cost 75 cts a pocket knife for 1.25 and some other little notions, principally milk, but I have two dollars and forty cts yet. You said that you wrote two letters on the l6th but I did not get the first one, but lucky for me I got the one with the money.
Well, we have just been to dinner and found we had a new cook as we had good beef soup with onions and bread and the beef was well seasoned. Yesterday they were around taking names to muster for to pay us two months pay, but I do not know how they can pay us without descriptive list. I sent to the Co. when I first came here but it has not come yet.
We have very pleasant weather. It is pretty warm but we stay in the shade and there is a cool breeze. Well the mail just came in and brought me four letters, two from you one from Ezra and one from Salome. They were all well. Her letter was written the 14th. Ezra said he was well and he expected to go home on recruiting service. Well, Dear Wife, I have too many letters before me to write you a good letter but beg pardon for this time and hope these few lines may find you all well and in good spirits. I would have gone to Franklin before this time for the detachment of the 3rd 0hio dismount men are there and they say they have a good camp and plenty of rations but I get along here pretty well. Now I have four letters yet to answer besides yours, Sams, Ezras, Salomes and that letter from Muskingum County. Well I must come to a close in hopes of hearing from you often. No more this time but am ever your true and affectionate Husband
George Kryder
To Elisabeth and all inquiring friends
Oh yes, I have made several rings and intend to make a few more and I intent when I get them done to send them in a little box.
Good bye.
