Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-07
AT CLIPPER GAP.

said the general, lowering his fieldglasses
and turning pair of cold gray eyes upon
a staff officer who was standing near.
''If we could get battery into Clipper
gap, :" responded the officer addressed, 1.-THE
question might be soon settled and at
close range The conhguration 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, ris-
ing 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 sugges-
ton 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 BIO 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 tho direction of an
old plantation dwelling, where masked
mortar battery had an 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 a 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,
would lead a 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
Ganghorne."
General Colby laughed heartily.
Cant you forgive me, White, for say
ing that Langhorne is the bravest man in
the Third corps? You grow sarcastic ev-
cry time you refer to the conversation Of
last evening. Langhorne is brave brave
as a lion. l know him under fire. South
erner, is he not? Colonel Williams told
me that he had two brothers in the rebel
army. Did you know him before the war;"
YES" answered the other, looking
again in the direction of the house. II
knew him very we'll. We 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
Jhaps that accounts for his fighting sympa-
thies. His people are all on the other side
He lives in this section somewhere, be-
lieve. AS to his bravery, never consid
cred him brave at all. You will say at
once, general, that this is prejudice aris-
ing from our early relations. Not so. I
am not inclined to depreciate Langhorne's
war record, which we all admit is splen-
did. I say simply that he is not man Of
great physical courage"
During this brief recital the generals
face wore smile of innocent raillery, but
as White concluded a stern expression
! stole over his countenance He thrust his
fieldglasses into a silver bound case and
almost fercely beat the long leg Of his
cavalry boot with a pair of heavy gaunt-
lets, which he had taken off a few mo-
ments before. He was man of imperi-
GUS disposition and violent temper, with
little 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 de-
gree of moderation, the thoughts that had
sent wicked expression to his face.
Colonel White" he began deliberately,
"you impugn the courage of one of the
bravest men in the service-a man whom
I have learned to love and respect. tell
you he is as brave as lion. His courage
is always tempered with the coolest iudg-
ment-the very highest form of courage.
Do you remember the day att
Here the general broke off abruptly and
drawing out the fieldglasses fixed his sight
on the house that stood on long stretch
of level ground below, whence rose at fire.
quent intervals white puffs of smoke tell
ing of the cannonade still furiously waged
from the mortars of the rebel battery. In
a moment he broke off his inspection, and
turning to Colonel White said: Per
haps your suggestion of the gap as a point
Of action is not bad. 1 really do not see
any way out Of it, and just to prove that
am 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 can wipe
away the arrogant coRCeit of military
prowess in three or -four hundred rebel
hearts and at the Same time wipe away the
arrogant conceit/6 snap judgment in the
heart of br9zher officer" and General
Colby again Smiled good naturally upon
his staff officer. Whether this opinion
came from an honest conviction of mill
tary necessity or from the motive Of vim
dicatinS an insolent judgment that was
won't to consider itself infallible we are
not to judge. Men have been slaughtered
before and will be again without apparent
motives of any kind. Calling his orderly
and pointing to group of mounted Off
Gers that rested on little knoll 300 or 400
I yards away he said, "Ten Captain Lang
horne to come here at once" The orderly
saluted and withdrew.
General Colby looked at his watch, nerv-
ously slapping the neck of his black mare
with the bride rein. "We shall now see, "
he muttered half aloud, "who is qualified
to weigh the qualities of soldier" Colo
mel White, who turned deadly PALE did
not move a muscle or make reply. Pres
emily there was clatter Of hoofs in the
rear, and Captain Langhorne refined up q
big chestnut colt before his commander
and touched his cap. His appearance was
not soldierly, though he sat his horse we'll
His long blond hair framed face of deli
cate refinement, which was lighted up by
blue eyes that might have belonged to a