Camp near Louisville, Ky
Nov 25th 1864
Dear beloved wife,
I take this present opportunity of writing a few lines to let you know that I am well and hearty and in good spirits and hope these few lines may reach you enjoy[ing]the same blessing. I rec'd your letter of the 18th in due time which gave me much pleasure to learn that you were all well and I answered it the same day.
I did not have much to write and have not much news now but will tell you that we got our pay yesterday and this morning I went to the city to express $140.00 to you. I sent it to Norwalk and I paid for it. It cost $1.00, and I inquired for the box you sent and they told me that it had not come so I went to the American express office and it was not there, so I went back and made the second inquiry and they told me it was there and I got it and came back to camp and you can not imagine the pleasure I had in opening it and found the things all right and I went to work got a good supper and whenI tasted that butter it made me think of home.
Henry is in another mess and I went and asked him to come and eat with me and he did. Those grapes are delicious, also the currants. I did not stew any of the apples but they will be first rate.
There are many of the boys pretty drunk this evening and making a good deal of noise and some of them said they expected to see me come back tight but I told them not as long as I had my right mind. Rather cut off my right arm than have my appetite run away with my senses. And the longer that I am in the army, the more I hate to see a drunken man. When a soldier is drunk he is unfit for anything, hardly for prison.
I have had but one letter in four weeks today and today yours did not state whether you got them newspapers with them rings that I sent you. I hope you have before this.
Our Captain has resigned and gone home and there are a good many more officers that resigned. The general impression is that the war cannot last six months longer and that is my belief, but I will not make any calculations any more for I have been disappointed too many times to put any dependence in good prospects but hope for the beet. The citizens of Louisville and vicinity got up Thanksgiving dinner for the soldiers in and around the city and some of the regiments that had officers to attend to it had plenty but we did not get any till nearly night. They brought some of the leavings of some regs and divided it around. The eatables were nice, what was of it, but there was hardly a taste.
We have had pretty cold weather for several days but yesterday and today it was very beautiful but since I have commenced writing it clouded over and it is beginning to rain. I have the most comfortable tent in our company. I have a stove, the only one in the Co. and they come to my tent to warm, and some of them have dropped some of their livestock (grey-back) and I caught some but I change my clothes regular. If I think I will have money enough perhaps I will have my likeness taken to send to you. I am getting very fleshy and never had better health with the exception of a slight cold.
Well I must come to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon. No more this time from your true and affectionate husband
George Kryder
To Elisabeth, Lillie, and Mary Kryder and all inquiring friends
Please write often. Write as soon as this comes to hand and direct
Co. I, 3rd OVVC Louisville, Ky.
good bye
