I told him if he did not he most certainly would be punished.

Finally, seeing that punishment was certain if he refused longer to obey my order, and being somewhat remote (even if he was not protected altogether from the consequences of his disobedience to his orders) from the War Department, he yielded.

When I returned from Knoxville I found quite a commotion.

The operator had been reprimanded very severely and ordered to be relieved.

I informed the Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in charge of the telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be relieved, for he had only obeyed my orders.