"Thomas Strong, sir," answered the boy.
"Your rank?"
"Second-lieutenant, sir."
"Where were you captured?"
"In Ohio, sir, by General Morgan."
Tom was faint with hunger as he was put through this little catechism. As he made the last answer, he reeled against the next prisoner, Col. Thomas E. Rose, of Indiana, who caught and held him. Lee misunderstood the movement. His lip curled with disgust as he said:
"Are you—a boy—drunk?"
Tom was too far gone to answer, but Rose and a half-dozen others answered for him.
"Not drunk, but hungry, General."