# Identify the historical speaker

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [December 20, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015 "2008-12-20T02:18:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015/1 "2008-12-20T02:18:19Z")

</div>

If he didn’t say it, he _should have._

For example:  
“Hurry! The Indians might get away!”  
-George Armstrong Custer.

To begin:  
“I’m going to tell the Empress, Felix! I’m going to tell the Empress!”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015/2 "2008-12-22T00:12:01Z")

</div>

that definitely stumped me, but I cheated and googled it, is the answer

Rasputin?

I got one. “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist-”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015/3 "2008-12-22T00:26:35Z")

</div>

Yes, to Felix Yussopov while running across the courtyard, having been poisoned, shot and beat with a stick. 🙂  
I can’t remember your guy’s name.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015/4 "2008-12-22T01:03:03Z")

</div>

General John Sedgwick, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court or something like that (I just remember the Spotsylvania part cause it makes me think of some polka-doted vampire or something). He was referring to a group of rebel army sharpshooters taking potshots at the Union lines. He said this right before one of them shot him. I believe he was the highest ranking casuality in the war, too.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-the-historical-speaker/478015/5 "2008-12-22T01:48:12Z")

</div>

Here’s one:

“These Eastern upstarts don’t look so tough. Am I right, guys? Uhhhh, guys? Where you goin’?”

(Maybe obscure?)