Was lie A Coward ?

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 46

Was lie A Coward ?

When the American army was at Valley Forge, in the winter of 1777, a captain of the Virginian line refused a challenge sent him by a brother officer, alleging that his life was devoted to the service of his country, and that he did not think it a point of duty to risk it to gratify the caprice of any man. This regard for duty gave occasion to a question of honour which clearly displayed the brilliant points of the officer's character, and exposed the weak oues of his brother in the service in a very pointed manner. His antagonist gave him the character of a coward through the whole army. Conscious of not having merited the aspersion, and discovering the injury he should sus-

tain in the minds of those acquainted with him, he repaired one evening to a general meeting of the officers of that line. On his entrance be was avoided by tho company, and the officer who had challenged him insolently ordered him to leave the room, a command which was loudly re-echoed from all parts. He refused, and asserted that he came there to vindicate his name, and after mentioning the reasons which induced him not to accept the challenge he applied a large grenade to the candle, and when the fuse had caught fire threw it on the floor, saying : " Here, gentlemen, this will quickly determine which of us all brave danger most." At first they stared upon him with stupid amazement, but their eyes soon fell upon the fuse of the grenade, which was fast burning down. Away scampered colonel, general, ensign, and captain, and all made a rush to tho door—" Devil take the hindmost." Some fell and others made their way over the bodies of their comrades ; some succeeded in getting out, but for an instant there was a general heap of flesh sprawling at the entrance of the apartment. Here was a colonel jostling with a subaltern, and thore fat generals pressing lean lieutenants into the boards, and blustering majors and squeaking ensigns wrestling for exit, the size of one and the feebleness of the other making their chance of departure pretty equal until time, which does all things at last, cleared the room, and left the noble captain standing over the grenade with his arms folded and his countenance expressing every kind of scorn and contempt for the train of scrambling redcoats as they toiled and bustled and bored their way out of the doors. After the explosion had taken place some of them ventured to return to take a peep at the mangled remains of their comrade, whom, however, to their general surprise, they found alivo and uninjured. When they were all gone the captain had thrown himself flat on the floor as the only possible means of escape, and fortunately came off with a whole skin and repaired reputation.