Request denied

A weird old story, an issue that literally got more controversial during the day as I was writing about it, and a hero you've likely never heard of. Also, 7 other things worth your time.

Let’s start today with a more amusing story than yesterday — but with a twist. I hesitated because it’s older even than the saga of Julia Sand. But, we can connect it to the present.

It’s about a young Army officer in the 19th century who was assigned, and not happy about it, to fill two jobs at the same time.

On the one hand, he was given command of a company of soldiers. But, he also had to fill the role of “post quartermaster and commissary” — basically, the supply officer.

He reacted … well, absurdly. Here’s an example that became part of his lore:

1. As company commander, he once needed a certain piece of equipment. So, he wrote a request and submitted it to himself as the quartermaster.

2. As quartermaster, he wrote back to himself as company commander: Request denied.

3. Acting as company commander once more, he appealed his own decision as quartermaster.

4. Then, putting on the quartermaster hat again, he crafted a written denial of his own appeal.

Finally, he packaged the whole mess and put i…