banqueted on Mr. Riggs's bull, and were honest enough to confess
that they had rarely fared so sumptuously. This is one of the great
events. Now to the other. A number of general officers (choice
spirits), imitating the example set by their bold superiors, went
out on a forage of their own, and coming to the house of the Hon.
Montgomery Blair, put it under a close examination, especially the
cellar and larder, which was supposed to be well stored with the
choicest. They were disappointed, however, to find that the cellar
contained little wine, and were about setting the honorable owner
down for a disciple of temperance, when they came upon a barrel of
rare old Bourbon whisky.

This discovery caused great rejoicing, the news of it spread far and
wide among the officers, and not an order was obeyed for the rest of
the day. So you will see, my son, that while the superior generals
and their staffs were banqueting on Mr. Riggs's bull, the field
officers were besieging their brains with Mr. Blair's choice whisky.
The city was perfectly safe while this state of revelry existed. And
I feel, my son, that you will agree with me that Mr. Blair deserves
well of his country for supplying his cellar with this remarkable
weapon of defense. Let the future historian bear in mind that the
War Department can claim no credit for the safety of Washington. The
credit of saving Washington belongs exclusively to Mr. Riggs's bull
and Mr. Montgomery Blair's barrel of whisky. They furnished the
feast that stole away the brains of General Early's officers, and
caused the delay that saved the city.

In fine, my son, I have good military authority for saying that
these rebel officers, after their wisdom had been carried away by
the whisky, put on ladies' dresses and so conducted themselves that