When General Sickles, after the second battle of Bull Run, assumed command
of a division of the Army of the Potomac, he gave an elaborate farewell
dinner to the officers of his old Excelsior Brigade.
"Now, boys, we will have a family gathering," he said to them, as they
assembled in his quarters. Pointing to the table, he continued: "Treat it
as you would the enemy."
As the feast ended, an Irish officer was discovered by Sickles in the act
of stowing away three bottles of champagne in his saddle-bags.
"What are you doing, sir," gasped the astonished General.
"Obeying orders, sir," replied the captain, in a firm voice: "You told us
to treat the dinner as we would the enemy, and you know, General, what we
can't kill we capture."