The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-07-26
THOROUGHBRED GAP
BY M. QUAD.
Copyright, 1900, by c. B. Lewis.

4 SOpyIiSul, 15uu, ny y. D. LtWlSe 4
Lee was moving to invade Maryland
and Pennsylvania. The mountains hid
his marching columns from sight of the
Federals, and at every gap in, the Blue
Ridge he left force with instructions
to hold out to the last and give thim
all the time possible to reach and cross
the Potomac. 1t was the aim of the
Federals to break through at some
point and penetrate his movement, and
there was fighting on every mountain
trail and at the mouth of every noun
tain gap. The major general had said
to the brigadier ordered to proceed to
Thoroughfare gap:
Il do not know how many Confeder,
ates are holding that gap, but he the
number 800 or 1Q, 600 you must shreak
through. That is the der-break
through. If only one man of your com
mand is left alive, he will bring us the
news we want
And the major general on the Con
federate side had said to the brigadier:
'You will detach one regiment of
your command to hold Thoroughfare
gap. 1t must be held against the Fed
erals for three days. We can spare
only single regiment. If there is but
one man left alive at the end Of that
time, he will follow on and overtake
u.s."
A narrow wagon road, twisting and
turning between walls from 20 to 100
feet high, with alternate spots of sun
shine and gloom-that was Thorough
fare gap. AS the skeleton regiment Of
600 Confederates entered it and pressed
forward to it's western mouth, it's rug
gedness and gloomy solemnity brought
feeling OF awe. 1t reminded them of
tomb, and they shuddered to think of
dying in the semidarkness Two field
pieces rolled along with the regiment
Of, infantry. and the jar of the heavy,
wheels loosened a stone now and then
to come Gathering down from far
above, When a blue brigade came
gathering up. ii. was to find the 600
{ in possession and the position one
whichsthe dullest private must see was
well nigh impregnable. Every hour
was worth thousand lives to the Fed
eral army. and the Federal brigadier
lost no time in beginning the attack.
In the,open he would have .gobbled up
that skeleton regiment at a dash. Be
hind rocky wall hastily thrown up.
with no way to get at the enemy ex-
cept in front, his surplus Of men die
not count. At the sound of the bngles
they dashed forward with cheers. but
not man got within five rods of the
wall. Grape and canister and bullets
tore the lines to pieces. It was tried
again and again. The orders were to,
break through the gap. A thousand
dead and wounded would be a cheap
price for the information to be had at
the other end. Artillery was brought
forward to batter down the wall, but
It could not be placed to advantage.
The pieces had only been fired once
when their crews lay dead or wounded
and the carriages were shattered. The
Federal brigadier rode back and forth
and stormed and, swore and almost
wept.
"Whether 500 or. 10000, you must
break through were the ORDERS and
If he failed to carry them out his ca
reer as soldier was at an end. An
army Of 100000 men was waiting to
checkmate Lee. A whole nation was
waiting to hear the splash Of Confed-
crate feet In the waters Of the Potomac.
The men In blue could hardly form
company In the mouth of that defile.
A charge against the wall meant death
to every other man, but they formed up
and charged and cheered and-died.
After half a day Of bloody fighting the
Federal brigadier rested. He was still
bleeding from a wound when be open
ed a dispatch and read:
"You have one. OF the best brigades 10
the corps. and it is certain you are OPP
posed by only handful Of confedar-
: