[4V50 Gary]

We had an odd character with us who furnished mc amusement, a diminutive Irishman named Jerry Ring whose duty it was to take care of the Colonel's horse. Jerry was passionately fond of whiskey or anything in the shape of strong drink. The Colonel had received several bottles, as a present from home, of a very strong German liquor in stone bottles. To the taste it was almost as cutting as aquafortis. [Note: Aquafortis is a wood stain used by flintlock rifle makers and is made from combining nitric acid and steel filings.] They called Jerry to test its merit and he gladly accepted the invitation by gulping down a good sized glass. The next seen of Jerry was a limber bunch of an Irishman curled up under the tent fly. All efforts to rouse him to consciousness were unavailing. He remained "dead drunk" for three days but always insisted afterwards that it was the finest old liquor that he ever drank.

We will have more on Jerry later.