.

"Then, by Heaven, we are lost," continued the Adjutant. "Strategy played
out and our General of Division out of whiskey. Yes, sir! those mishaps
end all further movement of this Grand Army of the Potomac. But when did
you hear that?"

"I was in the marquee of the Brigade Commissary when a Sergeant and a
couple of privates on duty about Pigey's Head-quarters came in with a
demijohn and a note to the Commissary, presenting the compliments of the
General commanding Division, and at the same time the cash for four
gallons of whiskey. The Captain read it carefully and told the Sergeant
to tell the General that he didn't keep a dram-shop. I expected that
this reply would make sport, and I concluded to wait awhile and see the
thing out. In a few minutes the Sergeant returned, stating that he had
not given that reply to the General, through fear, I suppose, but had
stated that the Captain had made some excuse. He said further that Pigey
said he was entirely out, and must have some.

"'Tell him what I told you,' said the Captain, determinedly. Off the
Sergeant started. I waited for his return outside, and asked him how
Pigey took the answer. 'Took it?' said he, 'I didn't tell him about the
dram-shop, but when he found I had none, he raved like mad--swore he was
entirely out--had been since morning, and must and would have some. He
d----d the Captain for being a temperance fanatic, and for bringing his
fanatical notions into the army; and all the while he paced up and down
his marquee like a tiger at a menagerie. At last he told me that I must
return again and tell the Captain that it was a case of absolute
necessity, and that he knew that there was a barrel of it among the
Commissary stores, and that he must have his four gallons.'

"I followed the Sergeant in, but he could not make it. The Captain had
just turned it over to the Hospital.

"So the Sergeant went back again with the empty demijohn. He told me
afterwards that the General was so taken aback by his not getting any,
that he sat quietly down on his camp stool, ran his fingers through his
hair, pulled at his moustache, and then 'I knew,' said the Sergeant,
'that a storm was brewing, and that the General was studying how to do
justice to the subject. At length he rose slowly, kicked his hat that
had fallen at his feet to one corner of the marquee, d----g it at the
same time; d----d me for not getting it any how, and clenching his fists
and walking rapidly up and