"'This money for the coats does not come out of your pocket,' said the General, blandly. 'Why need you concern yourself about it?'
"'It comes out of the pockets of my men, General,' said the Colonel, 'and I consider it my duty to concern myself sufficiently to prevent imposition upon them.'
"'Tut,' said the General. 'You wouldn't hear a Regular officer say that.'
"'The greater shame for them,' said the Colonel. 'My men are my neighbors and friends. They look
to me to protect their interests. As a general thing the Regulars are recruited from the purlieus of great cities, and are men of no character.'
"'Colonel,' said the General, sternly, 'listen to this definition of 'Mutiny,' and then, as you are a lawyer, think of your present position.'
"The Colonel heard it read and replied that 'it had nothing whatever to do with the case, as there was no mutiny, nor even an approach to it.' Considering the time of day, the General, so far, had been unusually cool, but he could keep in no longer.
"'Colonel,' said he, in a loud, angry tone, as he advanced towards him, 'by G—d, sir, you are mutinous, sir!'
"'General,' replied the Colonel, coolly, and looking him full in the eye, 'with all due deference to your superior rank, permit me to say, that if you say I am guilty of mutiny you overstep the bounds of truth.'
"The Colonel's confident manner rather staggered the General, and he turned to the Adjutant, who has been his runner throughout this matter, and called upon him to substantiate his assertion; which he did.