Camp Gravely Springs, Ala.
Feb. 27th, 1865
Dear Beloved Wife affectionate Companion
I now take this present opportunity or writing a few lines to you to let you know that I am still in the very best of health and fine spirits hoping these few hasty lines may reach you soon and find you all well.
I will now tell you my object in writing today. It is this. We expect to go on a march and do not know where our destination will be and do not know when we will have another opportunity to send out letters or get mail again. But it looks to me now as if I should not have to write as many letters for the next year as I have done for the past year as prospects for the war to end are better than ever before as our brave General Sherman has taken Charleston or caused the Rebs to evacuate and has taken Columbia, the capital of the hotbed of secession (South Carolina) and many other important places. And the report is that the Rebs have left Richmond and are marching along towards East Tenn. where it is supposed we are going.
We had three days rain which raised the streams very high and the roads will be very bad to march. I have not much news of importance to write but will tell you that Charles Benham got a furlough for 30 days and our Captain one for 20 days yesterday evening and will start for home tomorrow. Mat Wilcox had a furlough made out but it came back respectfully disapproved. Poor fellow. It is a pity he could not go home for I will tell you how much he deserved a furlough. He has never carried a gun farther than from Nashville to Columbia about 45 miles then went clerking for the Captain, was about two weeks making out our pay rolls and then did not get them right and then was detailed clerk in the quartermasters Department where he has been ever since and consequently has never stood picket.
I expect there will be a hard fight somewhere in east Tennessee or West Virginia and that will be about the last hard fighting as we have three armies either of which will be able to whip the Rebs separately, but the Indians have been troublesome of late on the western frontier and it may be we may go there Before very long but that would just suit me for I want to see the west sometime and if I could go there while I am a soldier I could save a good deal money in going and could see the country too.
If you have that Certificate yet from the adjutant General of Ohio, I wish you would give it to some claim agent to collect that local bounty and try to get as much of our money together as possible for if I should be fortunate to get home I would like to invest in land in the great west.
I would like to write some to our little girls but hardly know what but hope they will be good girls and mind Ma and I expect it will not be long till I can come home to read to you and learn you to write.
Well Dear Wife I must come to a close in hopes of hearing from you soon. Elisabeth, do not feel uneasy if you should not hear from me in a long while, but I will write at every opportunity and hope you will write me at least once a week. So no more this time, but remain as ever Your True and affectionate
Husband
George Kryder
Please write often and direct via Nashville, Tenn.
I most forgot to tell you that I am about out of stamps and
wish you would send me some in your next letter
