Pioneer: Corps 3rd Division 15th. A.C 
     Jonesbory: Ala    January: 8th 1864 
Dear Wife: 
I Sit down this Evening to write you a few lines 
in answer to your letter Dated Dec 23rd which I 
Rec'd this morning and was glad Indeed to hear from 
you and to hear that you was well; my health is only 
moderately good I have had the worst cold: for the last 
two week past that I Ever had in my life; but I am getting 
considerably better; though I have quite a hard cough, yet 
but I think it will wear away now in the course of a 
few days: for the past three days we have had the coldest 
wether I have Seen in the South it looks considerably 
like Wis wether; the ground is frozen So that it will bear 
the wagons and Teams except in verry deep mud holes 
It tried to Snow last night but it only snowed 
enough to make the ground look white; we are now at 
Jonesboro ten miles East of Huntsville; we left Larkinsville 
on the 4th Inst: and marched verry Slow: only making 
ten miles the first two days; we arrived here last night 
at dark: the last letter I wrote to you was the 31st of Dec 
I would have written again before this but I was on the road 
and did not have a chance: we [crossed out letters] will [crossed out word] probably remain here 
at this place a week or ten days and build a Bridge 
across flint River before we go on to Huntsville 
the 18th is at Huntsville I have not seen any of the boys 
Since they left Bridgeport; and perhaps I will not have 
a chance to see them a week or two to come
There has been considerable Excitement here lately among 
the Troops about Enlisting in the Veteran Service 
I dont know how many of the 18th has gone into it as 
they left Bridgeport Just as the Excitement commenced 
as for myself I have not Enlisted yet and you need not 
be afraid that I will; I did not come to war for money 
and when my time is out and I think I have Served 
my country my share; I am then going to quit and go 
home and money cannot hire me to Stay longer 
I am now on my last year and the time will soon roll 
around if we keep our health; you said I promised to 
Send you my picture after I got fatted up a little and 
that you would soon begin to look for it; I had a chance 
to get it taken at Bridgeport but there is no Daguerrian 
artist here and I am afraid if I Should Send it to you 
that you would think I looked poorer than I did when I 
sent my picture last winter; If Tom Stevenson had to 
borrow money of me to clear him from the Draft; he would  
be pretty sure to go to War; for Instead of loaning him money 
to keep him out I would give 25 Dollars to force him into 
the army; for he [crossed out letter] is one of the few that I would like to see 
come to Lemrick; I have plenty of clothes or in fact all that 
I can carry and a Soldier wants no more; you need not put 
yourself to any Trouble to send me anything by Robert unless 
it would be a pair of socks if you had them as the Govemnt 
Socks are generally poor things and you need not put your 
self to mutch about them; my paper is out and I must close 
  I Remain Yours Truly as Ever	Thos .J. Davis 
Lucinda. M. Davis