A Witty Aide-de-Camp — 484
During the battle of Fredericksburg, the Confederate General Lee observed one of his aides-de-camp, a very young man, shrink every now and then, and by the motion of his body, seek to evade, if possible, the shot. “Sir,” said Lee, “what do you mean? Do you think you can dodge the balls? Do you know that Napoleon lost about a hundred aides-de-camp in one campaign?” “So I’ve read,” replied the young officer, “but I did not think you could spare so many.”