The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-07
UNDER A CLOUD.


Chattanooga. can see him now as l.
saw him then, his sword and sash laid
aside, his uniform coat thrown open
negligently, his whole appearance de-
noting rather one OF the drudgery Of
ficers of the staff, whose soldierly bear
ing had given way under the continued
performance of clerical duties, than the
commander of an army. Before him on
a table was bundle Of papers, one OF
which he had taken up and was finger
ing absently. Directly opposite stood
'the general''-my general; we of the
staff always spoke of him as 1.-THE gen
eral," though there were a hundred
generals in the army-with a dogged
look on his face that BODIED no good to
himself or anyone else.
L had attended the general on sum-
mons to headquarters, and should have
waited in the hall, but curiosity to see
the new commander of the Army OF the
Cumberland, who had achieved rcnown
at Donelson and Vicksburg, had over
come whatever of modesty possessed
1T was not gem of the first water
and, stalking confidently past staff Of
ficers and ordcrlics, l entered the room
with nv chief. Once there, l stood back
in a corner where 1 would attract as
little attention as possible, fearing that
I would be ordered to bctake myself to
parts more fitted for a second lieuten-
ant than the apartment OF the com
handing general.
Gen, Heath" said the commander,
IL have sent for you to communicate
to you the contents of this paper which
7 received this morning from the sec
rotary of war;"
The general started. "The secretary
Of WARP"
"Yes. He directs your arrest and trial
by court-nartial.'
"What new persecution is this?" eX-
claimed the general, irnpatiently.
s:Thc secretary seems to hold you re-
sponsible for the disaster at Chicka-
mauga.''
"Chickamauga? In what way does he
connect me with that blunder?'
"You are accused Of purposely leav-
ing the gap in our lines through which
the confederates poured, thus e1fecting
the rout of the Army of the Cumber-
land"
Cen. Heath made no reply, standing
with his hand resting on his sword-hit
his brcws knit, his lips compressed.
81 regret this new complication, said
the general in chief, presently. u have
especial use for you. and 1T once
Use for me, general: But just re-
leased on one charge OF treachei'E, and
rearrestcd Oil anutier. Who would fol
low such leader: l. would much rath'
er you would procure the acceptance
of my resignation. Why should serve
a government that distrusts me? My
friends, my family in Virginia, begged
me to stay with them, to fight for them
remained trueto the unicn. What has
been the result? st the very outset
in the spring Of 'Gl, was accused oil
conniSing to surrender my command if
Texas. Then there were those runiors
of treachcry at Shiioh-thatI had with
drawn, the picket in my front in order
to leave the way open to attacl.--ant
my arrest and confinement by the sec
rotary Of war. What use to beg for !;
COPY OF the charge? What use to de
mand a trial? No accuscr, no accuse
ton Then, after months behind bars
the public gaze Icing attracted else
where by another battle, the secretary
finding it incNpcdicnt to hold me longer
turns me out of prison and orders M
to report to you, expecting you tx
utilize Il disgraced man. And now, be
fore YOU cun assign me to duty, scape
goat being needed for the disaster a
Chickan,auga, an order comes for IN.
rearrest. The blunderer who left til.
gap through which Bragg hurled Hooe
has succeeded in covering up his jdcnti
ty, while ], who commanded cavalry
and had nothing to do with the mair
line Of battle, must be sacrificed to ap
pease the public, who are looking fol
victories and get nothing but defeats
I should not have been present Al
such an interview, a beardless boy
in my tecns.-but had been Gen
lleath's aide from the start, and hac
served him through all his troubles
often carrying his messages to those
high in authority in his efforts TO gair
hearing. could have withdrawn, Uu1
nothing short of an order would have
driven me from an interview which in
terested me intensely. Gen. Heath, nat
urally restless and sensitive, had beer
maddened by his confinement and dis
grace. This new trial that doomed W
before him rendered him ready to turl
like a hunted beast and rend his pcrse
cutors. 1t was plain to me that the
general in chief was giving his sub
ordinate time to cool. l remembered
how he had himself been deprived OF
his command after Shiloh and shclvec
as mere assistant to the commander
in chief. and could understand his pa
thence with one who had suffered SC
much more lieenly in similar manner
When his subordinate had finished, tn,
superior gave few deliberate putfs Al
his cigar, then asked:
. "Have you no suspicion as to the ori
gin of these rumors?"
"Nonc whatever"
The general in chief sat thinking
"The wrongs of this war" he said, pres
emily. "will be rightcd only as oppor
tunity is given the wronged to righ
them"
"Will you explain, general?'
The commander smoked on, unruf1led
pensive Gen. Heath stood mute, while
wondered what solution would bt