plied.

"But I will not assign them to you."

Here was a collision between officer and Government contractor, which
might result in the professional ruin of the officer; for the draft was
an order from his superior. Although a good many rough words were
interchanged, I stood my ground and did not pay the draft. I read
between the lines of Col. Gorgas's letters that he would stand by me,
and he did. The draft was undoubtedly made by higher authority--probably
the Secretary of War, Mr. Seddon--who at the time had not been long in
office, while Col. Gorgas had served from the organization of the
Confederate Government in Montgomery. I never heard anything more about
the repudiated draft, and, not long after, I was informed that, at the
request of the War Department, I had been advanced to the grade of
Major.

* * * * *

In this connection I may mention an incident that occurred somewhat
later. Mr. Yancey had returned to Richmond, and Mr. James H. Mason had
taken his place as Commissioner. It would be difficult to imagine two
men more opposite in character, discharging the same functions. Mr.
Yancey was a much younger man, and had been a student at Williams
College, Massachusetts. He had represented Alabama in the United States
Congress, and was sufficiently acquainted with affairs in general to
hold his own in almost any company. His voice and manners were pleasing,
and his estimate of himself was sufficiently modest to make him an
appreciative listener. I never heard him address an audience but once,
but that once convinced me he was a born orator. It was at a
Fishmongers' Guild dinner, and the few representatives of the
Confederate States were the guests of the evening. Mr. Yancey sat on the
left of the Lord Warden. I sat four or five seats from him, on the
opposite side, the tables being arranged in the form of a horse shoe.
There was a large number present, and many were evidently Americans from
the North.

Very early in the list of toasts, the toastmaster,--a butler possessed
of a ringing voice, and who stood just behind the chair of the Lord
Warden, from whom he received his orders--called out:

"Gentlemen, fill your _glah-ses_, the Lord Warden will take wine with
you."

The glasses being filled, the toast was announced. I do not now recall
the words, but it had reference to the "new nation," and to Hon. William
L. Yancey, and "our guests from the Confederate States of America.