Daily camera., 1897-01-18

frcedmeT's bureau, ana had only 1olntu
his regiment late in the autumn of the
memorable ycuuw 1ever year, when,
had he 50 desired, he could have re-
lnained away. His appearance at the
stricken garrison when the death rate
averaged 20 q day, when the post was
commanded by lieutenant, and some
of the companies oy cotporals, every
body else being either dead, down or
convalescent-added to the halo which
hung about his hitherto Invisible head.
There was no question as to his con-
summate bravery. Grant himself had
stopped in the rear of his regiment and
asked his name after its dash on the
works at Donelson, and the unknown
private was decorated with sergeants
chevrons on the spot. Before he had
opportunity to learn much of his new
duties, "the Johnnles jumped the
picket one night and stampeded every
body but Close, who was given up for
lost until he came in two days later
full of iouckshot and information. His
colonel acted on the latter while the
doctors were digging out the former,
and Close got a commission as first lieu
tenant in a new regiment for his share
of the resultant benefits. One bloody
afternoon as they wer, scrambling
back, unsuccessful, and under an awful
fire, from the works at Nieksburg. the
colonel was left writhing on the lead
swept glacis with no shelter but the
dead and dying around MIN, and Close
headed the souad that rushed out and
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 alive, and Mcpherson sent
for Close and wrung his hard brown
hand and looked admiringly into the
scmber, impassive 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 at Sherman's headquarters, had
influence. In the midst of SO rough
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" swore 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 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 sen. 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,
saving 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 If :,
he had saved at Vicksburg, and who
was now on "bureau duty" in the south;
spite some rumors of his unfitness.
until the fever cut it's wide swath il
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 uSeIul. 1uuteti, DIT d llIilS w hSh
men were dying or deserting 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 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