Extremely cool story.

Here's another one - probably apocryphal.

When I was attending West Point, there was a story circulating among the cadets that Poe was kicked out of that august institution for showing up for a parade once in his belts (these white, dress belts that represent ammo belts) - and nothing else.

Little article that mentions the story and refutes it at:
http://
www.dean.usma.edu/math/people/rickey/dms/x1834-Poe.html



Not near as cool as your story, and probably not even true, but it's a bit of lore that's been making the rounds for ages.

k