"What's the trouble?"
"A discussion arose in our regiment on the day we were ordered into battle over the expiration of our enlistment. I held, as a lawyer, sir, that every day of rotten manual labor we had faithfully performed for our country should be counted in our three months military service. Our time had expired and I demanded that we be discharged then and there——"
"On the eve of a battle?"
"Certainly, sir—what had that to do with our rights? We could have reënlisted on the spot. I refused to take orders from the upstart who commanded our brigade."
"And what happened?" the calm voice asked.
"He dared to threaten my life, sir!"
"Who was he?"
"A Colonel in command of our brigade—named Sherman!"
"William Tecumseh Sherman?"
"Yes, sir."