Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-24
AT CLIPPER GAP.

'Those hounds must be driven out"
said the general, lowering his field
glasses, and turning a pair of cold
gray eyes upon a staff officer who was
standing near.
IF we could get battery into Clip
per Cap" responded the officer adj
dressed, 1.-THE question might soon be
settled at close range. The cOnfigura-
ton 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 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, IN
stead of meeting the sharp glance Of
his commander, he allowed his eyes to
wander down to the left, and in the di-
rection of an old plantation dwelling,
where a masked battery had, an hour
before, opened on the federal lines
with terrible effect.
81 merely mentioned the matter,
general" replied the staff officer, after
a few moments Of silence. II shall be
glad to execute any orders that you
may have in the consummation Of a
better plan"
''But my good man." returned the
general, "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 a battery into Clipper Cap!
'sWhat question" replied the other.
what question for a soldier To be
sure I would lead a battery into the
Gap, or into hell, for that matter-it
ordered to do so. By the way, gener-
al, this would be a great opportunity
for your brave Captain Langhorne. :
General Colby laughed heartily
Cant you forgive me, White, fol
saying that Langhorne is the bravest
man in the Third Corps? You grow
sarcastic every time you refA" to the
conversation of last evening. Lang
horne is brave-brave as a lion
knew aim under fire. Southerner, Is
he not? Colonel Williams told me
that he had two brothers IN the rebe
army. Did you know him before the
WARP"
yes" answered the other, looking
again in the direction of the house
81 knew him very we'll. We were il
the same class at the University OF
Virginia. Rivals first for class leader
ship. and later for the hand of the
fairest woman in the old common
wealth Langhorne got the girl who
nv the way, was of northern birth
Perhaps that accounts for his fighting
sympathies. His people are all on the
other side. He lives in this section
somewhere | believe. AS to his BRAY
cry. | never considered him brave a
all. You will say at once, general
that this is a prejudice arising from
our early relations. Not so. l am mo-
inclined to depreciate Langhorne'
war record. which we all admit is
splendid. I simply say that he is moi
a man of great physical courage"
During the brief recital the generals
face wore a smile of innocent raillery
but as White concluded a stern eX-
preston stole over his countenance
He thrust his field-glasses into a 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 a 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 a distant relative
and trusted adviser, but it was evil
dent that he had gone too far When
the first flush of his wrath had been
beaten out upon his boot he was en-
abled to speak, with some degree OF
moderation, the thoughts that had sent
a wicked expression to his face.
Colonel White" he began deliber,
ately. "you impugn the courage of one
of the bravest men in the serylce-a
man whom | have learned to love and
respect. l tell you he is as brave as
a lion, and his courage is always tenn
pered with the coolest judgment-the
very highest form Of courage. Do you
remember 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 stretch of level ground below,
whence rose at frequent Intervals
white puffs of smoke, telling 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
perhaps your suggestion of the Gap
as a point of action is not so bad after
all. l really do not See any way out
of it, and just to prove that l am
right, I shall order Captain Langhorne
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 conceit of
military proves in three or four
hundred rebel hearts, and, at the same
time. wipe away the arrogant conceit
of snap Judgment in the heart of a
brother officer" and General Colby
again smiled good-naturedly upon his
staff officer.
Whether this sudden change of opin-
ion came from an honest conviction