St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-10-13

NS1M MZZzaa ami general. low
s. NzGMMFM.T Y ering his field
kNX 4A glasses, d
MZZH ~ turning : pair
NN W1EA of cold gray
AE2I .N2 eyes upon .
Ell staf o IA Ger
6sH@ who was stand
ing near.
IF we could get . battery into Clip
per Gap" responded the officer i'd
dressed. ''the question might be sct'
tied, and at close range. The config-
uration OF the land and the bore OF our
guns combine, it seems to me, to make
any other solution impossible"
''Clipper Gap.' echoed the general,
rising visibly in his saddle. and then
settling back with a sarcastic smile.
Clipper Gap. did you say. colonel?
White, you are talking at random.
Surely your suggestion is not feasible.
You ought to know that battery
could not live to unlimber there, but
even II it got into action-why, good
God, man, you must be dreaming.
Col. White looked hurt, and instead
of meeting the sharp glance OF his
commander, he allowed his eyes TO
wander down to the left, and in the
direction OF m old plantation dwell
Ing, where = masked mortar battery
had, an hour before, opened on the
federal lines with terrible effect.
II merely mentioned the matter,
general" replied the staff officer, after
. few moments of silence. Il shall be
glad to execute any orders that you
may have in the consummation OF =
better plan"
But, my good man." returned the
general, "A gunner could not live i've
minutes ut the Gap. 1t would be down
right murder to order = battery in
there. Col. White. would You lead .
battery into Clipper Gap?"
"What = question" |" replied the other.
''What = question for = soldier. To b
sure would lead battery into the
Gap, or into hell for that matter-if
ordered to do SO. BY the way. gen
eral, this would be = great opportunity
for your brave Capt. Langhorne-"
Gen. Colby laughed heartily.
Cant you forgive me, White, for
sayg that Langhorne is the bravest
md n the Third corps? You grow
saf0kstic every time you refer to the
conversation Of last evening. Lang
horne is brave-brave rs lion. I
know him under fire. Southerner, IL
he not7 Col. Williams told me that he
had two brothers in the confederate
army. Did you know him before the
WARP
"Yes." answered the other. looking
again In the direction Of the house.
II knew him very well. We were In
tho same class at the University Of
Virginia. Rivals first for class leader
fairest woman in the old common
wealth. Langhorne got the girl, who.
by the way, was of northern birth.
Perhaps that accounts for his fighting
sympathies. His people are all on the
other side. He liEes in this section
somewhere, / believe. As to his
bravery, never considered him brave
1t all. You will say at once, general,
that this is . prejudice arising from
OOl Carly ICi6LAOhSs ANoO SOs ohA AOO
inclined to depreciate Langhorne's
war record. which we all admit is
splendid. say simply that he is not
: man OF great physical courage"
During the brief recital the generals
face wore = smile Of innocent raillery,
but - White concluded, . stern ex-
precision stole over his countenance.
He thrust his field glasses into = sill
ver-bound case, and almost fiercely
beat the long leg Of his cavalry boot
with pair Of heavy gauntlets, which
he had taken of few moments be-
fore. He was man of imperious dis
position and violent temper, with lit
tie liking for opposition from any
source. White was q distant relative
and trusted adviser. but it was evident
that he had gone too far. When the
first flush OF his wrath had been beaten
ont upon his boot, he was enabled to
speak. with some degree Of modera-
tion, the thoughts that had sent .
wicked expression to his face.
'Col. White he began, deliberately,
lyon impugn the courage of one of the
bravest men in the service-s man
whom I have learned to love and re-
spect tell you he is rs brave as =
lion, and his courage is always tenn
pered with the coolest judgment-the
very highest form Of courage. Do you
remember the day at"
Hero the general broke OF abruptly,
and drawing out the field glasses, fixed
his sight upon the house that stood on
4 long stretch Of level land below.
whence rose 1T frequent intervals
white puffs Of smoke. telling Of the
cannonade still furiously waged from
the mortars of the confederate bat
terry. In . moment he broke OF his
and turning to Col. White,
said:
Perhaps your suggestion Of the
Gap IS = point Of action is not 30 bad
after all / really do not see any way
out of it, and just to prove that am
right, shall order Capt Langhorne
In there. Some one has to 60, and
am convinced that Langhorne has the
right kind of stuff in him. He can
wipe away the arrogant conceit Of
military prowess in three or four hun
dred confederate hearts, and at the
same time wipe away the arrogant
conceit Of snap judgment in the heart
Of . brother officer" and Gen. Colby
again smiled good naturedly upon his
stan officer.
Whether this sudden change of
opinion came from IN honest convic.
ton Of military necessity, or from the
motive Of vindicating IN insolent
Judgment that was wont to consider
Itself infallible. we are not to Judge.
Men have been slaughtered before,