For information sake

"...Aretino's dialogues are of additional literary interest for serving as the model for such works as L'Escole des Filles (1655), which appeared in English as The School of Venus (1688). It was the French version of this "novel" - consisting mainly of a discussion of sexual matters by two girls, Fanchon and Susanne - that was purchased on February 8, 1668, by His Majesty' Secretary of Naval Affairs, one Samuel Pepys. He characterized it as "the most bawdy, lewd book that I ever saw," and for this reason procured it "in plain binding, avoiding the buying of it better bound because I resolve, as soon as I have read it, to burn it." The next night, after consuming "a mighty good store of wine," he retreated to the privacy of his chamber, where he read the book "for information sake," then proceeded with the burning, "that it might not be among my books to my shame."

- from Hugh Rawson's enormously diverting Wicked Words. 

"[On the eve of the battle of Stones River], both commanders formed similar plans for the morrow: to turn the enemy's right, get into his rear, and cut him off from his base. As the two armies bedded down a few hundred yards from each other, their bands commenced a musical battle as prelude to the real thing next day. Northern musicians blared out "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia," and were answered across the way by "Dixie" and "The Bonnie Blue Flag." One band finally swung into the sentimental strains of "Home Sweet Home"; others picked it up and soon thousands of Yanks and Rebs who tomorrow would kill each other were singing the familiar words together."

- James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, pg. 580.

Almost 25,000 soldiers were killed, injured, or taken prisoner in the battle of Stones River, Dec. 31 1862 - Jan. 2, 1863.