Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-01-19

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
was then his abiding
place for 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 '66 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 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 lifs
he had saved at Vicksburg, and who
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 its 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, 1t is difficult to say
what losses might not have been sus-
tanned but for his tireless vigilance. Hc
exposed himself fearlessly among the
dying. He said he had had light at
tack of the fever at New Iberia earlier
in the season and couldn't take itagai,.
AT oil events, he did not. He was prob
ably the only officer who remained
longer than 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-to
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 We're ordered. and Close got
leave of absence and tried to get back to
bureau duty, where they did not wan!
him. Then he appealed to Farnham.
and through him to Gen. Sherman
His wounds made him stiff and sore: he
couldn't drill or parade. 1t transpire
that he had no full uniform, and his
first and only frock-coat had been let out
to the last shred and was still too tight
for him. Then some queer yarns began
to be told. He was quasi executor for
three officers who had died intcstatc,
and who had little to bequeath any
how. He had nursed them in their last
illness, and such items of their property
US had not by medical orders been con-
demned and burned lie had for sale.
Under the regulations the major was the
proper custodian of the effects of de
| ceased officers, but the major was him,
/ self almost victim and had been sent
north to recuperate after long and
desperate struggle. On an occasion when
he simply had to appear in full uniform
Close turned out in plumed felt hat
sash, and epaulets which. when ques
toned, he said We're the late Capt
Stones, and SO was the coat. 1fnobody
could be found to buy them, he would
but he did not mean to buy ''such truck
until it was absolutely necessary.
Respect for his fighting ability in the
field and his fearless service during the
epidemic prevented any 'crowding" OF
the old fellow. though there was no lit.
tie talk about the habits he was disclos
ing. The bachelors and grass wild.
overs" Of the infantry and battery
started mess, but Close declined tc
| join. He explained that he preferred
to board with French creole family
short distance away, as he wished
to learn the language" They gave q
big dance Christmas week and taxed
every officer ten dollars. Close had
nursed Pierce through the fever, and
Pierce was treasurer of the fund. Close
was accounted for as ''paid." both fol
the original ten and the subsequent as
sessment of five dollars that was found
necessary, but it came out of Pierce:
pocket, for Close begged off one ant
refused the other, and Pierce would no
tell until 1t was dragged out of him b.
/ direct questioning months after. /
1ranspired that Close Went only once
day to the humble dwelling, four blocks
away. where he preferred to board. HI
assiduouSly visited the kitchen of Com
pany sc" at breakfast am. dinner TIM
to see that those meals were properly
cooked and served, and there could b'
no question that he personally sam
pied" everything they had. He wor
the clothing issued to the men, unit
the colonel insisted on his appearing il
proper uniform, and then had to rebuls
him for the condition of the paper col
lar and frayed black bow that were at
tachcd to the necllband of his fame
shirt. He wore the soldier shoe, ant
sworc that no other kind suited his foot
He had towrite letters occasionally, bu
when he did SO he repaired to the com
pany Office or that of the post quarter
master, and not one cent did he sPen'
for stamps.
Indeed it became a subject of unoffi
cial investigation whether he spent
cent for any thing He lought nothin,