Home / Macdonald, John MacLean. Battle of White Plains, etc. Paper read at the New-York Historical Society, October 7, 1856. Published as The McDonald Papers, Part I, Chapter 2 in Publications of the Westchester County Historical Society, Vol. IV. 1925-26. / Passage

The McDonald Papers, Part I, Chapter 2: Battle of Whiteplains, Etc.

Macdonald, John MacLean. Battle of White Plains, etc. Paper read at the New-York Historical Society, October 7, 1856. Published as The McDonald Papers, Part I, Chapter 2 in Publications of the Westchester County Historical Society, Vol. IV. 1925-26. 196 words

The tailor refused to give up so important a part of his material, and the general himself on being ap-pealed to, showed at first a strong inclination to hold on. However, after a while, but with a bad grace, he resigned the curtains into the hands of their fair manufacturess. The late General Philip Van Courtland used to tell a story of General Lee, which exhibited at the same time, the peculiar humor of the man, and the poverty of his wardrobe. "It was at this time," said Van Courtland, "currently reported and believed in the American camp, that Lee's stock of shirts was reduced to three, and that these were in a state of such dilapidation, that he himself bestowed upon them the ap-propriate names of Tag, Rag and Bobtail. Having been in-vited to dine at headquarters, the following dialogue was said to have occurred between him and his valet." "John !" "Sir !" "I am going to dine today with General Washington and must have a clean shirt. Fetch me Tag." "You have got Tag on, Sir." "Let me have Rag, then." "Rag is in the wash, Sir." "Well then, - Bring along Bobtail!"