Alexander William Thompson letter dated January 2, [1864]

              Camp near Dalton, Georgia Jan[.] 2

My Dear Father I take this oportunity [sic] of riting [sic] you all a few lines to let you all know that I am in good helth[.] [sic] I have got entirely well of diareas[.] [sic] Lite rations of meat has cured me[.] We are having some of the coldest weather at this time that I have seen in a long time[.] Last nite was very cold[.] I have nothing of any importance to rite[.] Gen. [General] Johnston is here in command of this Army[.] The roades [sic] are getting so bad here that it is almost impossible to hall [sic] any thing[.] Farther I received a letter yesterday from Martha and I was glad to here [sic] that Brother Martin has not bin taken prisoner[.] I think Martin mite [sic] rite to me sometimes. The soldiers are all getting in better spirits now. We have all been down in the spirits for some time back but [MS illegible] for sometime after I got up here. But I am thankfull [sic] to Almitty [sic] God for his kind protection over me[.] I maid [sic] some very narrow escapes[. I]t did seem that no one could of escaped being shot. [W]e got the best view of the fite [sic] that we could find[. W]e could see all their moving[.]