"Sir, I have come to vote."
He looked at me, hesitated a moment, glanced at my hand, which was on my pistol, and the crowd of Union men around me, the countenances of every one of whom evinced a fixed determination the meaning of which he could not mistake, and then turned to the judges, but said not a word.
"Put that ticket in the box, and record my name," said I, calmly, but firmly.
He did not need another bidding, but slowly dropped the ticket in the box, took up his pen, and was about to record my name, when the Major said:
"The law requires a vote to be sworn in, after it has been challenged."
"Very well, sir," said I; "if the law requires it, I will be sworn."
He then produced a Bible, and holding it out to me, I laid my left hand on it, and the oath was administered, after which the book was held up toward my mouth, but I stepped back.
"Do you refuse to kiss the book?" said the judge.
"Yes, sir," I replied.
"For what reason," he continued.