"Have you visited the Jackson?"
"I have just come from there."
"To-day is not the visiting day. Did you see Surgeon Powers?"
"I did."
"Did you get into that hospital without trouble?"
"We had a parley."
"What did he say to you?"
I gave his objection and my reply in a low tone. To my annoyance, the doctor repeated it in a loud voice, and continued:
"You certainly could have given no better reason than that every soldier is some mother's son. What do you think of Surgeon Powers?"
I hesitated in view of all these officers; but my second thought was, no matter whether the President himself were present; and I frankly replied: