December 7.—I received a letter from my brother to-day. He is well, and has lost every thing except the clothes which he has on. I intend sending him some.
The weather is intensely cold, and our men must be suffering very much, for they are only half clad, and half shod. I often wonder how the enemy dare to taunt us about our rags and poverty. Are they really so blind to true principle as not to know that men who fight as ours do, and as they are kept, must have something high and holy to enable them to do it? There is more glory in their rags than all the glitter and gilt lace that the Federals have in their possession.
Our army is at Dalton, and I expect will remain there all winter. My brother blames the infantry for our defeat on Missionary Ridge; but I expect it is all for the best, and that we shall do better next time.
