the ears is noticeable. There is plenty of room for the organs of
combativeness. One would think he is probably a lover of children;
during this interview he patted the head of an inquisitive dog, which
evidently belonged somewhere on board the flag-ship, and which strayed
into the room. His eyes are big, very full and very keen. As you enter
he says curtly, "Take a seat." He waits, looking down, for you to
state your business, then suddenly fixes you with a piercing glance,
and goes to the heart of the subject by one incisive sentence, which
leaves no more to be said. This description is a general type of
several interviews with him. On this occasion the general inquired
concerning the facts, looking keenly, searchingly, and meditatively at
the detachment commander. The machine gun man was "on trial." Then the
general broke the silence by one short question, "What do you want?"
and the reply was in kind, "Twenty men, general, with the privilege of
selecting them." The general suggested the advisability of taking a
complete organization; to which was replied, "That at this late hour
in the expedition it is imperative to have selected men in order to
perform the required duty; that men taken at random, as would be the
case in a complete organization such as a company, would not be likely
to have the required characteristics." The general tersely remarked,
"You may have them. Make out your list, name any man in the corps that
you want, and hand the list to me. I will send the men to you." The
trial was over, and the Machine Gun Detachment was a settled fact.

Accordingly on the following day Special Orders No. 16 were issued, as
follows:

Extract.

"Headquarters 5th Army Corps,