The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-09-03

fetched him
fetched him in. Everybody at McPher-
sons side could see that the rebs were
firing high, when once the daring sur
vivors of the six who started reached
their PROSTATE colonel, but the bull
let's sounded just as deadly to the four
who got back alivS, and Mcpherson sent
for Close and wrung his hard brown
hand and looked admiringly into the
scmber, impressive face with its deep
brown, almost dog-like eyes. Some of
The Thirteenth regulars were the next
to report on Close. And these fellows,
being a. Sherman's headquarters, had
influence. In the midst of so rough a
campaign, Close looked but little worse
for wear than did his associates, and
when he brought in ten prisoners with
only two men at his back. turned them
over to the Thirteenth, and went in for
more before anybody could thank him,
"Uncle Billy" swcre that man was one
of the right sort, and asked him what
he could do for him that very night.
And then-so the story ran-Close said
he guessed he'd like to be either a SUIT
Ter or a 1uartermaster-he didn't know
which-and for once in his life the pop
ular general looked bewildered.
After Mission Ridge, where he got an
other bullet through him, and one that
would have killed an OK, they simply
had to put Close on quartermaster duty.
he wanted it so much and had done such
splendid fighting and so little talking
for it. That was the end of him until
near the end of the war. His train was
captured by dash of Forests cav
airy, and, though most of the guards
got away. Close went with his wagons
Andersonville was then his abiding
place for a time, but in some way he
turned up again during the march to
the sea, which he made on muleback.
and when congress authorized the Or
ganization of 16 regiments of infantry
as part of the regular army in &c the
great generals at the head of military
affairs were reminded of Close. He
wrote from somewhere far out west.
saying modestly that they had told him
to let them know if they could ever be
of any use to him, and the time had
come. He had concluded to continue
soldering, and wanted to be a quarter
master. He was offered first lieu
tenantcy in the infantry and accepted.
though the examining board shook their
heads over his ill-written papers; was
applied for by the colonel whose lif D..
he had saved at Vicksburg, and WIN
was now on bureau duty" in the south !:
and on that work Close remained, de-
spite some rumors of his unfitness.
until the fever cut it's wide swath in
his regiment. The adjutant and quar-
termaster were both down when Close
arrived and reported for duty. In his
calm, stolid. impassive way he proved
vastly useful. Indeed, at time when
men were dying or deserving by scores.
when even sentry duty had to be aban-
doned, and when government property
was being loaded up and carried away
and sold in the city, it is difficult to say
what losses might not have been sus-
tanned but for his tireless vigilance. He
exposed himself fearlessly among the
dying. He said he had had a light at
tack of the fever at New iberia earlier
in the season and couldn't take it again
At all events, he did not. He was prob
ably the only officer who remained
longer than a week at the stricken post
| and escaped.
At last came the welcome frost, Vel
low Jacks conqueror, followed by new
officers and recruits in plenty, and
Closes occupation was gone. He had
helped to bury the adjutant, but the
quartermaster proved tough, and-tr
Closes keen disappointment. as the
boys began to say with returning
health, appetite. and cynicism-recov
cred from his desperate illness and re
sumed his duties. When December and
the new colonel came, drills and dress
uniforms were ordered, and Close gol
leave o. absence and tried to get back te