Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-12-29
AT CLIPPER GAP.

"Those hounds must be driven out"
said the general, lowering his f1eldglasses
and turning pair Of cold gray eyes upon
q staff officer who was standing near.
If we could get a battery into Clipper
gap" responded the officer addressed, "ths
question might be soon settled and at
close range. The confguration Of the land
and the bore Of our guns combine, 1t
seems to me, to make any other solution
impossible.
"Clipper gap" echoed the general, ris-
ing 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 sugges-
ton Is not feasible You ought to know
that a battery could not live to unlimber
there, but even If it got into action--why,
good God, man, you must be dreaming!'
Colonel White looked hurt, and instead
Of meeting the sharp glance Of his COM
mander he allowed his eyes TO wander
down to the left and in the direction of an
old plantation ling, where masked
mortar battery had al hour before opened
on the Federal lines with terrible effect.
II only mentioned the matter, general
replied the staff officer after few mo-
ments Of silence. II shall be glad to exc
cute any orders that you may have In the
contamination of better PLAN"
"But, my good man, returned the gen.
eral, "a gunner could not live five minutes
at the gap. 1t would be downright murder
to order battery In there. Colonel White,
would you lead battery into Clipper
gap!"
''What a question:" replied the other.
"What question for 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, general, this would be
great opportunity for your brave Captain
Langhorne."
General Colby laughed heartily.
Cant you forgive me, White, for say
ing that Langhorne Is the bravest man In
tho Third corpsS You grow sarcastic ev-
cry time you refer to the conversation Of
last evening. Langhorne Is brave, brave
as lion. I know him under fire. South
erner, Is he nots Colonel Williams told
me that he had two brothers In the rebel
army. Did you know him before the war;"
YES" answered tho other, looking
again In the direction of the house. II
knew him very well. We were in the same
class at the University Of Virginia. Rivals
first for class leadership and later for the
hand Of the fairest woman In the old COM
monwealth. Langhorne got the girl, who,
by the way, was of northern birth. Per-
kat ko 10 Avvt Inn
thies. His people are all on the other side.
He lives In this section somewhere, be.
lieye. AS to his bravery, l never consid-
cred him brave at all. You will say at
once, general, that this ia q prejudice arts.
ing from our early relations. Not SO. I
am not inclined to depreciate Langhorne's
war record, which we all admit Is splen-
did. / say simply that he is not man of
great physical courage.
During this brief recital the generals
face wore q smile of innocent raillery, but
as White concluded stern expression
stole over his countenancc. Flo thrust his
feldglasses into silver bound case and
almost fercely beat the long leg of his
cavalry boot with pair Of heavy gaunt-
let's which he had taken of few mo-
"AonVs ooAoo' -" ""' ' y.
Gus disposition ana siolent temper, Win
little liking LOT opposi1ioh.irom any source;
Whlte was uistah1 reiaSive anu 0ruscea
adviser, Dut IL was evident that ne nag
gone too far. When the nrst nush OF ms
wrath had been beaten out upon his boot,
he was enabled to speak, with some de-
gree Of moderation, the thoughts that had
sent wicked expression to his face.
Colonel White, " he began deliberately.
"you tmpugn tho courage OF one OF the
brayest men In the seryice-a man whom
have learned to love and respect tell
you he Is as bravo as lion. His courage
Ia always tempered with the coolest 1udg-
ment-the very highest form OF courage.
Do you remember the day att
Here the general broke off abruptly and
drawing out the feldglasses fixed his sight
on the house that stood on q long stretch
Of level ground below, whence rose at fro
quent intervals white puffs OF smoke tell
ing Of the cannonade still furiously waged
from the niortars Of the rebel battery. In
a moment he broke of his inspection, and
turning to Colonel White said: per
haps your suggestion Of the gap as point
of action is not bud. ! really do not SEQ
any way out Of 1t, and just to prove that
I ann right I shall order Captain Lang
horne In there Some one has to go, and
/ am convinced that Langhorne has the
right kind Of stuff In him. He oan wipe
away the arrogant conceit Of military
prowess in three or four hundred rebel
hearts and at the same time wipe away the
arrogant conceit Of snap judgment In the
heart Of brother officer" and General
Colby again smiled good naturally upon
his staff officer. Whether this opinion
came from an honest conviction Of mill