Colonel White poured himself three fingers of whiskey into his glass and then returned the bottle to its cabinet. He returned to his desk and sat down, picking up a single piece of paper as he did. He picked up his glass, took a sip and then angrily reread the dispatch. A knock on the front support pole of his tent announced the arrival of his Adjutant, Gilroy. “Good morning, sir,” greeted Gilroy, eyeing the whiskey glass on White"s desk. "Not a good sign," thought Gilroy.
White began to speak but knew his anger was trying to rule his mouth. With a moment"s hesitation, he more calmly said, “Fetch Gibbs, and then tell the other officers I want them here… White pulled his watch… at ten-thirty.”
A few minutes later, Lieutenant Colonel Gibson entered White"s tent and spotted the amber filled
