The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-07-16
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court were glad to get him out OF sich
mire as that. Ever since June, there
fore, Close had been alone with the men
and they with him, and no one IN au-
thority had the faintest idea how things
were going. Inspectors We're also un-
known IN those days, and so long as re-
ports and returns were regularly re-
oeived at headquarters, and no COM
plants came In from the civil author
tiles of negligence or indifference on
the part Of their military hackers, all
went smoothly. Now, there had not
been a few instances where civil and
military officials had clasbed, but "Capt.
Close and his splendid company" had
been the theme of more than one laud"
atory report from the marshal on the
score Of wkat he heard from his depu-
ties. The general commanding, indeed,
had been much elated by high COM
mendation from the highest power In
Washington, all due to services rem
dered in running down Hu Klux and
breaking up moonshiners by Capt.
Close, o. company G, --th infantry.
Its just exactly what tie old buffers
cut out ior," said the adjutant general
OF the department.; "but Pm sorry to
have to see young LAMBERT sent into
such exile"
He could hardly have been sorrier
than Lambert was himself, as that
young officer went briskly up the des-
olate road along the "branch." He had
never seen landscape 81 dismal in all
his life. How on earth was he to en-
ploy his time? No drills, no roll calls,
no duties except the sending forth Of
detachments at the call of this fellow
Parmelee; no books except the few in
bis trunk; no companions except this
heavy, illiterate, money-yrabbing lout
who did not know enough to offer him
seat or q cup of coffee after his long
night ride; not a soul worth knowing
nearer than Quitman-and only the in
cbriate Potts there! Certainly Mr.,
Newton Lambert felt at odds with fate
this sunny December afternoon. He
had tried to persuade himself that the
laughable stories about Close were
grossly exaggerated; but now that he
had met that officer thu indications
were in favor OF their entire truth.
It seems that Close had been on some
detached service In connection with the
treedmen's bureau, and had only Joined
his regiment late in the autumn Of the
memorable yellow fever year, when,
had he SO desired, he could have re-
manned away. His appearance at the
stricken garrison when the death rate
averaged 20 day, when the post was
commanded by lieutenant, and ssme
Of the companies by corporals, every
body else being either dead, down or
eonvalescent-added to the halo which
hung about his hitherto Invisible head.
There was no question as to his con-
summate bravery. Grant himself Ind
stopped in the rear of his regiment and
asked his name after It's dash on the
works ut Donelson, and the unknown
private was decorated with sergeant's
chevrons on the spot. Before he had
opportunity to learn much Of his new
duties, "the Johnnies jumped the
picket" one night and stamped very
body but Close, who was given up for
lost until he came in two days later
full of buckshot and information. His
colonel acted on the latter while the
doctors were digging out the former,
and Close got Q commission as first lieu
tenant in new regiment for his share
of the resultant benefits. One bloody
afternoon as they were scrambling
back, unsuccessful, and under an awful
fire, from the works at Vicksburg, the
colonel was left writhing on the lead
swept glacis with no shelter but the
dead anil dying around him, and Close
headed the squad 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 prostrate colonel, but the bull
let's sounded just as deadly to the fou,
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 o.
the Thirteenth regulars were the mex
to report on Close. And these fellows
being at Sherman's headquarters, hat
influence. In the midst of 30 rough {
campaign, Close looked but little worst
for wear than did his associates, ant
when he bEought in ten prisoners witt
only two men at his back, turned then
over to the Thirteenth, and went In fol
more before anybody could thank him
"Uncle Billy" swore that man was ont
of the right sort, and asked him wha'
he could do for him that very night
And then-so the story rnn--Close sai'
he guessed he'd like to be either sut
Ter or q 1usrtermaster-he didn't know
which--and for once In his life the pop
ular general looked bewildered.
After Mission Ridge, where he got m
other bullet through h4a, and one tho
would have killed an OK, they simpl
had 10 put Close on quartemaster duty
he wanted it SO much and had done sue
splendid fighting and SO little taikin
for it. That was the end Of him unit
near the end of the war. His train wa
captured by dash Of Forests ca,
airy, and, though most of the guard
, got away, Close went with his wagons
.Andersonville was then his abidin
place for time, but in some way b
, turned up again during the march I
the sea, which he made on mulebacl
and when congress authorized the oI