title: Civil War Blunders: Amusing Incidents From the War
author:  Clint Johnson 
description: "If you like your history seasoned with a touch of irony and a dash of humor, then Clint Johnson's Civil War Blunders is the ticket." -- <i>Magazine, Baton Rouge</i>
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
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  THE EPISODE OF THE ARREST OF THE COLONEL  
    
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
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  # THE EPISODE OF THE ARREST OF THE COLONEL
  
  
  ### Grant Allen
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  HOW much precisely Charles dropped over the slump in
  
  
  Cloetedorps I never quite knew. But the incident left
  
  
  him dejected, limp, and dispirited.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  'Hang it all, Sey,' he said to me in the smoking-
  
  
  room, a few evenings later. 'This Colonel Clay is
  
  
  enough to vex the patience of Job—and Job had large
  
  
  losses, too, if I recollect aright, from the Chaldeans
  
  
  and other big operators of the period.'
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  'Three thousand camels,' I murmured, recalling my
  
  
  dear mother's lessons; 'all at one fell swoop; not to
  
  
  mention five hundred yoke of oxen, carried off by the
  
  
  Sabeans, then a leading firm of speculative cattle-
  
  
  dealers!'
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  'Ah, well,' Ch