Historian and novelist Shelby Foote liked to relate a story about Confederate General Braxton Bragg to illustrate how stubborn and perverse that general could be. The story went that in the pre-war army when Bragg was a lieutenant he was serving as a company commander at a remote army post. Because of a shortage of officers at the post, Bragg was also serving as quartermaster, or supply officer. In his role as company commander, Bragg requested in writing certain supplies for his company, but as supply officer, Bragg repeatedly turned down his own requests. Unable to reach an agreement with himself, Bragg finally referred the question to the post commander.
Confronted by Bragg's correspondence with himself, the post commander reportedly exclaimed, "My God, Mr. Bragg! You have quarreled with every other officer in the Army, and now you are quarreling with yourself!"