In 1854, during the Crimean War, a British officer was caught napping in the trenches by the Russians, and walked off to Sebastopol. Some letters were found in his pocket, amongst them one from his lady-love. It was in vain he protested against this one being taken from him: the more he clung to it, the more the Russians were determined to have it, and with the rest it was sent to Prince Mentschikoff, the Russian commander-in-chief.
In the letter, the young lady, by way of raising the spirits of her young chevalier, hoped he would take Mentschikoff prisoner, and, said she,"if you do, mind and send me one of his buttons." Fancy the young lover's surprise on receiving his letters back.
A note from Mentschikoff was sent with them, and in it one of his buttons."Though things have not turned out quite as your lady-love expected, here is one of Mentschikoff's buttons. Send it to her," such were the words of the note.