Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-08-06
CLIPPER GAP.

IF we could get battery into Clipper
gap," responded the officer addressed, "the
question might be soon settled and at
close range The conhguration 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 I'm his saddle and then settling
back with a sarcastic smile. "Clipper
gap, did you say, colonel White, you arc
talking at random. Surely your sugges-
tion Is not feasible. You ought To know
that battery could not live to unlimber
there, but even II 1t got into aetion-why,
good God, man, you must be dreamingI'
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 dwelling. whore a masked
mortar battery had an hour before opened
on the Federal lines with terrible effect
~ only mentioned the matter, general"
replied the staff officer after a 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 gon-
eral, "a gunner could not live five minutes
at the gap. 1t would bs 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 a soldieri To be sure,
would lead battery into tho gap, or
into hell, for that matter, II ordered TO do
30. BY the way, general, this would DO a
fOF al m
Langhorne."
General Colby laughed heartily.
Cant you forgive me, White, for say
ing that Langhorne Is the bravest man in
the Third corpsi You grow sarcastic ev-
cry time you refer to the conversation of
last evening. Langhorne II brave, brave
as "A lion. I know him under fire. South
erner, Is he noti 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. Il
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
haps that accounts for his fighting sympa.
He lives In this section somewhere, be-
lieve. AS 10 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 Langhofne'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 tho generals
face wore "a smile of innocent raillery, but
as White concluded u stern expression
stole over his countenance. He thrust his
feldglasses into silver bound case and
almost hercely beat tho long leg OF his
cavalry boot with pair OF heavy gaunt-
lets, which he had taken of a few mo-
ments before. He was n man Of imperi-
Gus disposition and violent temper, with
little liking for opposition from any source.
White was a distant relative and trusted
adviser, but 1t 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 20 speak, with some do
gree Of moderation, the thoughts that had
sent a wicked expression to his face
Colonel White" he began deliberately,
"you impugn the courage Of one of the
bravest men In tho service-a man whom
l have learned to love and respect. i tell
you he is as brave as n lion. His courage
Is always tempered with the coolest judg-
ment-the very highest form of courage.
Do you remember the day at''-
Here the general broke off abruptly and
drawing out the fleldglasses 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 point
of action is not bad really do not see
any way out Of II, and just to prove that
am right l shall order Captain Lang
horne I'm 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 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 naturedly upon
| his staff officer. Whether this opinion
came from an honest conviction of mill
tary necessity or from the motive Of vim
dicating an insolent judgment that was
wont 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 800 or 400
yards away he said, "Tell 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 marc
with the bride rein. ave shall now SEQ,
ne muttered half aloud, "who Is qualified
to weigh the qualities Of a soldier" Colo
mel White, who turned deadly pale, did
not move a muscle or make reply. Pres
emily there was a clatter of hoofs In the
rear, and Captain Langhorne refined up
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
cato refinement, which was lighted up by
blue eyes that might have belonged TO q
woman. lie wore his soilod forage cap a
little to one side, and his blouse was open
for a space of three buttons at the top, ex.
posing o white shirt front and skt
handkerchief of tho Same color bound
about his throat.
General Colby looked first at Colonel
White, then frigidly returned the salute Of
the young captain.