This cartoon was probably published during the opening months of the Civil War. The rats - one for each Confederate state - having nibbled at a cheese marked "Sumter", find that they are hemmed in by a wall of Union states. A dog "Old General" has Va. In his teeth and his heading toward the rest of the rats. The men surrounding the ring include: left to right, Jefferson Davis trying to sell bonds and letters of marque to Louis Philippe of France, Brother Jonathan (?) who warns John Bull to keep his dog out of the arena and Uncle Sam who roots for "Old General." Vignettes and notices surround the central picture.