The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-09-29

H@aEM MZ%zMA& &BM II general. low
F KZS1MMMFTI ering his field
xI1 VIA glasses, a n d
MHLZ NV turning a pair
EWN MW1NlM of cold gray
EaA EXM .MV eyes upon q
staff fl . I
NWEW who was stand
ing near.
VT we could get battery into Clip
per Cap" responded the officer ad-
dressed, ''the question might be set
tied, and at close range. The conhg-
uration of the land and the bore OF our
guns combine. it seems to me, to make
any other solution impossible"
clipper Capt. echoed the general,
rising visibly in his saddle, and then
settling back with 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 if it got into action-why, good
God, man, you must be dreaming"
Col. White looked hurt, and instead
of NEE ting the sharp glance of his
commander, he allowed his eyes to
wander down to the left, and in the
direction of an old plantation dwell
ing, where a masked mortar battery
had, an hour before, opened on the
federal lines with terrible effect.
merely HeHLlOncu JHe AndCCcI,
general replied the staff officer, after
a few moments of silence. ~ shall be
glad to execute any orders that you
may have in the consumnation of a
better plan"
but, my good man. returned the
general, "a gunner could not live five
minutes at the Gap 1t would be down
right murder to order battery in
there. Col. White, would You lead a
battery into Clipper Gap?"
what a question: re piled the other.
''What a question for a soldier. To be
sure I would lead battery into the
Gap, or into hell for that matter-if
ordered to do so. BY the way, gem
cral, this would be great opportunity
for your brave Capt. Langhorne."
Gen. Colby laughed heartily.
Cant you forgive me, White, for
saying that Langhorne is the bravest
man in the Third corps? You grow
sarcastic every time you refer to the
converse ton of last evening. Lang
know him under fire. Southerner, is
he not? 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 we'll. We were in
Virginia. Rivals first for class leader
ship, and later for the hand of the
fairest woman III the old common
wealth. Langhorne got the girl, who.
by the way, was of northern birth.
Perhaps that accounts for his fighting
other side. He lives in this section
somewhere. 1 believe. AS to his
bravery, / never considered him brave
ut all. You will say at once, general,
that this is a prejudice arising from
our early relations. Not SO. lam not
inclined to depreciate Langhorne's
war record. which we all admit is
splendid. I say simply that he is not
a man of great physical courage"
During the brief recital the generals
face wore a smile of innocent rail1ery,
but as White concluded. n stern OK
preston 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 a pair of heavy gauntlets, which
he had taken Off few moments be-
fore. He was a man of imperious dis
position and violent temper, with lit
tie liking for opposition from any
source. White was 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
out upon his boot. he was enabled to
speak, with some degree of modera-
ton. the thoughts that had sent
wicked expression to his face.
''Col. White,' he began, deliberately,
''you impugn the courage of one of the
bravest men in the service-a man
whom 1 have learned to love and re-
spect. l tell you he is as brave a
lion, and his courage is always tenn
pered with the coolest judgment-the
very highest form Of courage. Do you
renemb Der the day at"
Here the general broke off abruptly,
and drawing out the field glasses, fixed
his sight upon the house that stood on
a long stretch of level land below.
whence rose at frequent intervals
white puffs of smoke, telling of the
still furiously waged from
the mortars of the confederate bat
terry. In a moment he broke off his
and turning to Col. White,
said:
"Perhaps your suggestion of the
Zap rs a point of action is not so bad |
after ali. 1 really do not see any way |
out of it, and just to prove that I am |
light. shall order Capt. Langhorne |
n there. Some one has to go, and !
I'm convinced that Langhorne has the |
light kind of stuff in him. He can |
wipe away the arrogant conceit of !
military proves in three or four hum |
lred confederate hearts, and ut the |
'ame time wipe away the arrogant |
.onceit of snap Judgment in the heart |