Short Rounds

The Shirtless Liberators

A few days after his victory over Royalist forces in the Battle of Boyacá, in what is now Colombia (August 7, 1819), Simon Bolivar, the liberator of much of South America, entered Bogotá.

Having been given a tumultuous reception and numerous honors by the city fathers, Bolivar decided to invite some of the leading citizens to an elaborate banquet, as a way of thanking them.  Naturally, he also invited many of his officers to this reception.  Among them was an English volunteer who had attained the rank of colonel for his many services to the Revolution.

When the colonel arrived, Bolivar took one look at him and said, "My good and brave colonel, what a dirty shirt you have for this grand dinner; what happened?"

The colonel replied that he was, "really very sorry, but, to confess the truth, this is the only shirt I have!"

At that, Bolivar laughed, and sent for his valet.  When his manservant arrived, Bolivar instructed the fellow to give the colonel a shirt from the general's wardrobe.

The man hesitated.

Bolivar stared at his valet for a moment, and then asked, "Why don't you do as I have instructed?"

The valet responded, rather sheepishly, "Your Excellency has but two shirts -- one is on your back, and the other in the laundry."

Bolivar and the colonel burst out in laughter, and the general remarked, "The Spanish retreated so quickly, colonel, that I had to leave my baggage behind."

By Land or by Sea

To command successfully, whether on land or sea, is a considerable achievement.  But a handful of men across the ages have done so on both land and sea.  For the most part, these men gained distinction first as naval officers, and then in command of land forces as well, but a few went the other way, and have been indicated by an asterisk.

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