In 1861, at the beginning of the American Civil War, Ulysses Grant, commander of the Northern forces, had cause to reprimand a young recruit for deserting his post while on guard duty. "Orders must be strictly and promptly obeyed always," said Grant.
Some days later the same recruit was put on guard of a steamboat laden with ammunition. His orders were to prevent anyone with a lighted pipe or cigar from approaching the boat. In due course General Grant appeared and made to board the vessel, one of his beloved cigars between the teeth.
"Halt!" cried the recruit, and raised his gun.
The general, surprised and annoyed at this apparent impertinence, demanded an explanation.
"I have been taught to obey orders strictly and promptly," replied the soldier, "and my orders are to allow no one to approach this boat with a lighted cigar. You will please throw yours away."
Grant was forced to smile on hearing his own words quoted back at him, and obediently tossed his cigar into the river.
一八六一年，美國南北戰爭之初，北軍指揮官攸利西斯．格蘭特見一年輕新兵放哨時，擅離崗位，把他斥責了一頓，告訴他說：「命令必須馬上並嚴格執行，無有例外。」
有一天，那新兵奉命看守一艘滿載火藥的汽船，不許任何燃點了煙斗或雪茄的人靠近。不久，格蘭特將軍到來，叼着他喜愛的雪茄，舉步準備登船。
那新兵舉槍喝道：「站着！」
格蘭特覺得他目無尊長，愕然之餘，很不高興，問他這算是什麼。
那新兵說：「我受過教訓，知道命令必須馬上並嚴格執行，而我奉命不許任何燃點了雪茄的人靠近。請把雪茄丟掉。」
格蘭特見那新兵引用他的話對付他，只有強笑，如命把雪茄丟進河裏。