During the war a great many men made fortunes by selling goods of various kinds, including provisions, to the soldiers. The army traders took big chances after the spring campaign opened, unless they packed up and moved to the rear as the troops marched to the front. Yet there were sutlers who followed the army even on dangerous expeditions into the enemy s country. The boys contended that if a trader could sell one wagon load of goods at sutler's prices--and get his pay--he could afford to retire or to lose five or six wagon loads. There was much truth in the statement. Among many stories current in the Army of the Potomac about “euchring the sutler,” as the soldiers called any trick by which they could secure goods without coming down with the cash, was the following: The troops were in bivouac on the James River. The boys received four months' pay, and there was no place to buy anything except at the sutler's. The trader took advantage of the situation and marked his goods up fifty per cent. He had just received a barrel of whiskey, which he was retailing at fifty cents a glass. The sutler's glass held a little more than a thimbleful. There was a run on the whiskey for a time. Then trade slacked up, and the sutler was at a loss to account for it, as it was contrary to all precedent, the rule being that the more liquor the boys got the more they wanted. Finally the call for whiskey ceased. “What's the matter with the men?” the sutler asked one of his clerks. “I don't know--they never acted like this before.” “They're not buying our whiskey.” “No.” “And many of them seem to be getting drunk.” “That's so.” “Must be somebody else's selling in camp. I thought we had a corner on whiskey.” “So did I.” “Well, you go out and see what you can find.” The clerk was gone about five minutes. “Have we competition?” inquired the sutler, as the clerk returned to the tent. “Well, I should say so.” “What are they selling at?” “Twenty-five cents a drink.” “Just half our price?” “Yes.” “Where are they located?” “Right outside our tent.” “Where do they keep their liquor?” “Take hold of the barrel with me and I'll show you.” The sutler was surprised to find a faucet in the rear end of the barrel as well as in the front end from which he had been drawing. “Somebody tapped this barrel from the outside,” he exclaimed. “Yes, and retailed your liquor at twenty-five cents a drink while you asked fifty. It's no wonder they drew all the customers,” said the clerk. “There's but a little whiskey left in the barrel--not more'n a gallon. Don't sell another drop for less than two dollars a glass.”