Bryce
Let's Buy the Battery
A good story is told of a brave sergeant in the cavalry regiment who was affected with a stoppage in his speech. His command was dismounted and acting as infantry.
A battery well posted was doing fearful execution along the line, and the officer in command sent an order to the colonel to "charge that battery and silence it." The colonel made a brief address to his men and informed them of the order. The sergeant stammered out, "S-s-say, C-c-colonel w-wouldn't it be a g--g-good plan to t-take up a collection and buy the infernal thing?" I'll p-p-pay my share." A smile played around the colonel's lips as he swung his saber around his head and gave the order to charge.