Headquarters 23D Reg’t. O. V. Inf. U. S. A.,
December 23, 1861.
Dear Doctor: — Thanks for your letter of the 16th. You will of course stay with Lucy until after she is out of all danger, if it is a month or more, and all will be well. Some arrangement, or no arrangement, it will be all right. I will come home unless something turns up to prevent, which I do not anticipate, so as to reach there just before you leave. McCurdy would like to go home during the next month, but it can all be arranged.
I will make Jim assistant at any time if it is thought best, but I do not wish to put him over McCurdy. This, however, need not trouble you. You can stay as long as you please, and I will see it duly approved.
You have authority to send home our men, but to stop all cavil I send you an order which you can fill up with the name of any officer, commissioned or non-commissioned, who you think can be trusted, directing him to bring here all men who are able to come.
At dinner just now I got your dispatch as to the boy. . . . Welcome to the little stranger I I hope he will be stout and healthy. . . .
Did Lucy get a draft for eighty-seven dollars by Captain Drake or Lieutenant Richardson, and two gold twenty-dollar pieces by a Company A man? Get Lucy for me some ring or “sich” thing that she will like — something nice.
Sincerely,
R, B. Hayes.
Dr. J. T. Webb
