One of the most striking of the General's traits is the quick comprehension which enables him to meet almost any question with a ready and commonly a witty reply.
During the earlier period of our occupation of New Orleans, persons were constantly applying to him to give them an order to search within our lines for runaway negroes; and it is a good illustration of the assurance of our enemies, that in a majority of cases the persons so applying were avowed traitors. The following is a fair sample of the conversation that would follow such an application.
"General, I wish you would give me an order to search for my negro," the visitor would commence.
"Have you lost your horse?" the General would ask, in reply.
"No, Sir."
"Have you lost your mule?" the General would add.
"No, Sir," the applicant for the order would answer, looking exceedingly puzzled at such unusual questions.
"Well, Sir, if you had lost your horse or your mule, would you come and ask me to neglect my duty to the Government for the purpose of assisting you to catch them?"
"Of course not," the visitor would reply, with increasing astonishment.
"Then why should you expect me to employ myself in hunting after any other article of your property?"