Camp near Gravely Springs Ala.
Feb l3th, l865
Honored and affectionate Wife:
I now taking pen in hand to write a few lines to let you know that I am still in the enjoyment of good health and have been in very buoyant spirits till today. I received your welcome letter of the 31st. Was very glad to hear that you were all well and had such a good visit, and found the friends all well. But when I saw that you had not got the money yet, I can not tell you how I felt. I almost felt as if I should censure you for not going to see about it sooner but then again I thought of the inconvenience you had to go but if you knew the anxiety and uneasiness that I felt about it I believe you would have gone to see about it before this but I can hardly think yet that it is lost but I will sand you the receipt and if you have not got it yet, leave the receipt with some lawyer in Norwalk and have him prosecute the Express Co. and I think they will hunt it up for $140.00 is not picked up every day and I will spend 25 or fifty dollars more to find out whether it cannot be collected, You will see on the receipt that I paid $1.00 for sending it. I am very glad that you draw so much money from the Township that will be nearly enough to keep you but I wish you had the $140.00. You would not have to skimp yourself.
We do not get much news now but the most we hear now is concerning peace which I believe is not very far distant for I think them Peace Commissioners will do something in settling the war.
There is nothing going on of importance. We have not been on picket since we came here only once since we left Louisville, that was at Bardstown, Ky.
I will now tell you that I got a letter from sister Catherine about a week ago. She was well and said that she had a letter from Sam's wife stating that she had not heard from him in ten weeks. America [Fribley] was at Savannah, Ga. And was well. I am looking for a letter from Elisabeth again. I have not heard from Ezra for some time. We have had some pretty tough times for rations, since we have been here. They have not issued any pork to us for over a week and only three days ration of poor beef, but as luck would have it my squad has not got out yet. There are four of us mess together and we saved ours and now while others have no meat we still have a little. We get first rate crackers, coffee, sugar, and a few beans and salt and soap but no candles but we can get along very well as we have a good fire place in our tent. We are busy nearly all the time building stables for our horses, but I do not think that of much use for who knows how soon we will get orders to leave from here. I would not care if I could serve the remainder or my time here for I have marched and fought enough to suit me but should we get orders to leave I am content. But how rejoicing it would be if the war was over and we could march towards home, to join our friends once more without the dread of war.
The command is very healthy. There are scarcely any sick but I will tell you that a week before last Frank Cobban or my Co. took sick with fever and by Saturday evening he was a corpse and was buried in honors of war a week ago today. He was a young man of about 20 years old and was a very poor soldier. I do not think he was ever was in a fight except Stone River and then he run back to Nashville. We have very strict orders hers we have Roll Call six times a day, drill once a day. With this I will close in hopes that I may hear from you soon again,
From your affectionate Husband,
George Kryder
Please write soon and direct Co. I, 3rd O. V. V. C. Eastport, Miss.
Please send me a little more thread as I used nearly half that you sent today as my pants and jacket were badly ripped.
So Good Bye
