Tranny? Clutch?

I have an 86 Diesel Escort. This a.m. on the way to work, my battery light flashed at me, I was at a stoplight, and when I started to go, the car didn't move. No strange sounds, no nothing. After a few tries, it went. I went home and had my fiancee bring me to work.
Came home this evening, and drove it around the block a few times, and no problems. Ran like usual. My fiancee thinks it could've been something to do with the cold (this is my 4th winter with this car, and this has never happened). Said he had a VW that did that, the clutch went a bit outta place but went back in on its own. I think it might be the tranny? Any ideas?

I have an 86 Diesel Escort. [snip] Said he had a VW that did that, the clutch went a bit outta place but went back in on its own. I think it might be the tranny? Any ideas?

Never had that experience, but here's my guess: Did the clutch pedal feel different? I'm thinking sticky clutch cable due to cold (now your going to tell me it is a hydraulic clutch....). Even this is a stretch; it sounds like the clutch had been operated a few times before you had this experience. I'm not buying the "clutch went out of place". Maybe not the cable, but maybe some other part of the linkage bound due to the cold?

Sorry for just guesses,
Kevin

How did the pedal feel when the clutch went out?

No, not hydraulic clutch.
Clutch feels fine. Hasn't given me a problem starting/going, now it pops out of gear when I'm driving-the stick shift says it's in gear, but the engine thinks it's in neutral. I hit clutch, put in neutral, then back into gear, and everything is normal again. Did it three times over a 30 mile trip.

Sounds like your shift linkage is out of adjustment....are gears hard to engage when it slips out? Could be time for new shift linkage mounting bushings....they get crappy after a while.