Camp Union, Fayetteville, Virginia, Wednesday, New Year's
Day, 1862. — Sun shone brightly an hour or two; mild winter weather, then
windy and threatening. Rode with Colonel Scammon four or five miles southwest
of town. Wind blew all day as if a storm were by brewing, but no rain or snow.
I set it down as a pleasant day. Number 1 for January 1862.
At dinner, speaking of naming my boy, I said: “The name was
all ready if I had heard that a daughter was born.” “Fanny Lucy" or “Lucy
Fanny” — linking together the names of the two dear ones, wife and sister. Dear
Fanny! what an angel she was, and, may I hope, now is.
Heard from home. Sergeant [John] McKinley, with letter and
watch — tight, drunk, the old heathen, and insisting on seeing the madame! I
didn't dream of that. He must be a nuisance, a dangerous one too, when drunk. A
neat, disciplined, well-drilled soldier under rule, but what a savage when in
liquor! Must be careful whom I send home.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 173
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