"Ah!" said Breman, remembering his instructions to the officer of the day, and coloring slightly, "I didn't know what to make of you. I did suspect your loyalty."
"I'm loyal enough, but I am among the rebs so much that I sometimes act like one." The officer of the day was saved the necessity of placing me under arrest.
Before reaching Cincinnati, the boat supplies became so nearly exhausted that it became necessary to issue an order forbidding any but commissioned officers and their attachés being furnished with meals by the boat. There were so many to eat that it generally required the table to be set three times before all would be supplied. The first time the table was set after the order was issued, I called at the clerk's office to buy a ticket for dinner for myself and a friend, and was refused on the plea that the order forbid furnishing meals to enlisted men. My friend and I then seated ourselves at the table, but were ordered away by the steward. On our refusing to go, he reported us to the clerk, who came and ordered us away. I told him that we were entitled to get our meals there, and if he couldn't furnish us a waiter, I'd get a commissioned officer to wait on us. I then ordered a waiter to serve us, but the clerk countermanded it. Just then Captain Bostwick, of the 20th Ohio Infantry, was passing by us.
"Here, Captain," said I; "these men have got above their business. They won't wait on us because we ha'n't got on shoulder-straps. Can't you wait on a poor soldier?"
"Certainly, gentlemen; what will you have, roast beef or boiled ham?"
"Some of the beef, if you please, Captain."
Away went the Captain with our plates. General Force, having heard our words, now made his appearance. "General," said I, "this man and I fare rather slim; they won't give us any thing to eat on this boat unless we have a man with shoulder-straps to wait upon us."
"Clerk," said the General, "let these men have what they want to eat. That man there (pointing to my friend) is a commissioned officer, and the other man is a great deal more deserving of his meals than I am."
"I beg your pardon, gentlemen," said the clerk. "Waiter, serve these men."
"Never mind the waiter, clerk. We don't want any of your trash around us; we have commissioned officers to serve us." The Captain served us till we had finished our meal, very much to the amusement of those looking on.