"War be hanged! he is a rebel, not a soldier."
"And being a rebel, he must be tried by the home authorities."
"Col. Gilmartin, answer me; if he were to be on board a war ship and fall overboard and be drowned, could I be blamed?"
"Of course not."
"If by accident he should be given a dose of oxalic acid in mistake for Epsom salts, would that be charged against me?"
"What are you hinting at, general?"
"That fellow threatened me——"
"He was exasperated."
"What right had he to be? A man who rebels should be ready for any treatment by his superiors. Hang me, if I dared, I would cut every rebel into pieces and send the parts to his friends with my compliments. They deserve such treatment. Hang me, what right have they to rebel?"
"They think they have a right."