The officers had gathered around their commander as close as etiquette allowed. They were looking on, and listening--some of them very serious--others with sneers."
"Name one of your friends."
"John Lawler, sir."
"What company?"
"Company D."
An officer wrote something, and an orderly went off.
"Now," said the general, "how is it that you seem to know General Grover and General Butterfield--stop! What brigade did General Grover command? Where was it that you knew him?"
"General, I beg of you that you will not force me to answer. The information I bring you is true. What I might say of General Grover would not prove me to be true. I beg to ask if Dr. Khayme, of the Sanitary Commission, is with the army?"
"Yes," said the general, after again questioning his aide with a look.
"He will vouch for me, sir," said I.