Goes to Ohio to recruit—Raises twenty-one men—Difficulty with the Governor—Visits Lieutenant-General Grant—Order from the War Department—Again in difficulty—Runs away from the Governor—Reports to General Sherman—Georgia raid—An amusing coincident—Reports to General Granger, at Mobile—Reports to General Grierson, in Texas—Makes a trip to the Upper Colorado—Incident at General Grant's head-quarters—The war over.
Goes to Ohio to recruit—Raises twenty-one men—Difficulty with the Governor—Visits Lieutenant-General Grant—Order from the War Department—Again in difficulty—Runs away from the Governor—Reports to General Sherman—Georgia raid—An amusing coincident—Reports to General Granger, at Mobile—Reports to General Grierson, in Texas—Makes a trip to the Upper Colorado—Incident at General Grant's head-quarters—The war over.
When General Grant left the Western Department to take command of the armies of the United States, I felt very lonely and depressed in spirit, on account of being parted from one to whom I had become strongly attached. I might have accompanied the General to the Army of the Potomac, but I had no acquaintance with that part of the country, and I preferred to operate where I had some knowledge of army movements, as well as of the country and people. The death of General McPherson made me feel gloomy and discouraged, and in the absence from the department of my two most valued friends, I determined to seek relief for my depressed state of mind by attempting to raise an independent command of my own, for secret service purposes.
I visited Major-General Logan—then in command of the 15th Army Corps—and told him my state of mind,and that I felt as if I had rendered service valuable enough to the Government to entitle me to a command of my own, and if he thought I was worthy of it, I wanted him to assist me. He immediately drew up and gave me the following letter:
"Head-quarters 15th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 1864."Captain L. M. Dayton, Aid-de-camp Military Division of theMississippi:"Captain—The bearer, L. Ruggles, of the 20th Ohio Volunteers, has been for two years in the secret service of the Government, and has, during that time, made it his study to become efficient in all its branches. Now, feeling confident in his ability, he wishes to raise a company of scouts, and wants authority to do so. I respectfully recommend that necessary authority be given him, believing him to be eminently fit to direct the movements of such a body of men.Under my directions, in the Mississippi campaign, through Holly Springs, Miss., and again in the Vicksburg campaign, he rendered the most signal service in obtaining information. He once entered the city of Vicksburg, during its investment, and returned with valuable and reliable information. If such authority can be, under any circumstances, granted, I respectfully recommend that it be granted him."Very respectfully,John A. Logan,"Major-General Volunteers."
"Head-quarters 15th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 1864."Captain L. M. Dayton, Aid-de-camp Military Division of theMississippi:
"Captain—The bearer, L. Ruggles, of the 20th Ohio Volunteers, has been for two years in the secret service of the Government, and has, during that time, made it his study to become efficient in all its branches. Now, feeling confident in his ability, he wishes to raise a company of scouts, and wants authority to do so. I respectfully recommend that necessary authority be given him, believing him to be eminently fit to direct the movements of such a body of men.
Under my directions, in the Mississippi campaign, through Holly Springs, Miss., and again in the Vicksburg campaign, he rendered the most signal service in obtaining information. He once entered the city of Vicksburg, during its investment, and returned with valuable and reliable information. If such authority can be, under any circumstances, granted, I respectfully recommend that it be granted him.
"Very respectfully,John A. Logan,"Major-General Volunteers."
I carried the letter to General Leggett, who placed on it the following indorsement:
"Head-quarters 3d Division, 17th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 1864."I am well acquainted with said Lorain Ruggles, and have been familiar with his career since he entered the secret service, and I can fully subscribe to all that is said for him by Major-General Logan."During the most of his time he has been in the secret service he has been under my direction. He has often had under his direction from six to thirty men, as scouts, and has always handled them with great skill, collecting valuable information and yet saved his men."M. D. Leggett,"Brigadier-General."
"Head-quarters 3d Division, 17th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 1864.
"I am well acquainted with said Lorain Ruggles, and have been familiar with his career since he entered the secret service, and I can fully subscribe to all that is said for him by Major-General Logan.
"During the most of his time he has been in the secret service he has been under my direction. He has often had under his direction from six to thirty men, as scouts, and has always handled them with great skill, collecting valuable information and yet saved his men.
"M. D. Leggett,"Brigadier-General."
From head-quarters 17th Army Corps, I received the following indorsement:
"Head-quarters 17th Army Corps,"Near Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 1864."Respectfully forwarded. Approved."Frank P. Blair,Major-General."
"Head-quarters 17th Army Corps,"Near Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 1864.
"Respectfully forwarded. Approved.
"Frank P. Blair,Major-General."
At Department of Army of the Tennessee, it was indorsed as follows:
"Head-quarters Dep't. Army Tenn.,"August 15, 1864."Respectfully forwarded."O. O. Howard,"Major-General.
"Head-quarters Dep't. Army Tenn.,"August 15, 1864.
"Respectfully forwarded.
"O. O. Howard,"Major-General.
The reader will bear in mind that I was a stranger to both Generals Blair and Howard. I then carried it to General Sherman, who disapproved it, as follows:
"Head-quarters Military Division Mississippi,"In the Field, near Atlanta, Aug. 15, 1864."Respectfully returned. There is no general law for such organization as the within. General officers, when they have secret service funds, can employ men for such secret service."States have had authority for raising independent companies of any kind that might be converted."By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman."L. M. Dayton,Aid-de-camp."
"Head-quarters Military Division Mississippi,"In the Field, near Atlanta, Aug. 15, 1864.
"Respectfully returned. There is no general law for such organization as the within. General officers, when they have secret service funds, can employ men for such secret service.
"States have had authority for raising independent companies of any kind that might be converted.
"By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.
"L. M. Dayton,Aid-de-camp."
I was disappointed with General Sherman'sdecision. I felt confident that there was some way by which I could get such a command as I wanted. I went to General Leggett for advice, who, after having read General Sherman's reasons for disapproval, wrote and handed me the following letter to Governor Brough:
"Head-quarters 3d Div. 17th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 1864."To his Excellency John Brough, Governor of Ohio:"Governor—The bearer of this communication—Corporal Ruggles, Co. H., 20th O. V. V. I.—has been in the secret service in the Army of the Tennessee for more than two years past, and has been eminently successful in that department. He has frequently had charge of considerable numbers of men employed as scouts and has always managed them with great discretion and skill."I would respectfully recommend that authority be obtained, if possible, for him to recruit in Ohio from among non-veteran soldiers, who have been discharged from service by reason of expiration of term of enlistment, an independent company, to be armed with Spencer rifles, and used as sharp-shooters, scouts, secret service men, etc."It is believed that such a company can be raised of men skilled in such service, and that the service will be greatly benefitted thereby."Very respectfully, your obedient servant,"W. D. Leggett,"Brigadier-General."
"Head-quarters 3d Div. 17th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 1864."To his Excellency John Brough, Governor of Ohio:
"Governor—The bearer of this communication—Corporal Ruggles, Co. H., 20th O. V. V. I.—has been in the secret service in the Army of the Tennessee for more than two years past, and has been eminently successful in that department. He has frequently had charge of considerable numbers of men employed as scouts and has always managed them with great discretion and skill.
"I would respectfully recommend that authority be obtained, if possible, for him to recruit in Ohio from among non-veteran soldiers, who have been discharged from service by reason of expiration of term of enlistment, an independent company, to be armed with Spencer rifles, and used as sharp-shooters, scouts, secret service men, etc.
"It is believed that such a company can be raised of men skilled in such service, and that the service will be greatly benefitted thereby.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,"W. D. Leggett,"Brigadier-General."
The foregoing letter was indorsed as follows:
"Head-quarters 15th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, August 17, 1864."Approved and recommended."John A. Logan,"Major-General Commanding.""ByR. R. Townes,Lieutenant-Colonel and A. A. G."
"Head-quarters 15th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, August 17, 1864.
"Approved and recommended.
"John A. Logan,"Major-General Commanding."
"ByR. R. Townes,Lieutenant-Colonel and A. A. G."
"Head-quarters 17th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 1864."Approved and strongly recommended. This man has proved himself a trusty scout, and has been of great service."[Signed for Major-General Blair.]"A. J. Alexander,A. A. G."
"Head-quarters 17th Army Corps,"Before Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 1864.
"Approved and strongly recommended. This man has proved himself a trusty scout, and has been of great service.
"[Signed for Major-General Blair.]
"A. J. Alexander,A. A. G."
"Head-quarters Army and Dep't of Tennessee,"August 17, 1864."Respectfully forwarded."I could make good use of agoodcompany, skilled as within described. I have no personal knowledge of Corporal Ruggles."O. O. Howard,Major-General."
"Head-quarters Army and Dep't of Tennessee,"August 17, 1864.
"Respectfully forwarded.
"I could make good use of agoodcompany, skilled as within described. I have no personal knowledge of Corporal Ruggles.
"O. O. Howard,Major-General."
The foregoing letters and indorsements, and General Grant's indorsement—which is yet to follow—were furnished me for these pages, accompanied by the following letter by the War Department:
"War Dep't, Adjutant-General's Office,"Washington, August 13, 1866."Mr. Lorain Ruggles, (Care of Major E. C. Downs, late of the 20thOhio Vols., Henrie House,) Cincinnati, Ohio:"Sir—I have respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d inst., requesting to be furnished with copies of letters asking authority for you to raise a command of scouts, etc., with the indorsements thereon recommending the same, for publication in a work detailing your experience as a scout."In reply, I have to transmit herewith copies of the letters referred to, with the indorsements thereon, as requested."I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,"Thomas H. Vincent,"Assistant Adjutant-General."
"War Dep't, Adjutant-General's Office,"Washington, August 13, 1866."Mr. Lorain Ruggles, (Care of Major E. C. Downs, late of the 20thOhio Vols., Henrie House,) Cincinnati, Ohio:
"Sir—I have respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d inst., requesting to be furnished with copies of letters asking authority for you to raise a command of scouts, etc., with the indorsements thereon recommending the same, for publication in a work detailing your experience as a scout.
"In reply, I have to transmit herewith copies of the letters referred to, with the indorsements thereon, as requested.
"I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"Thomas H. Vincent,"Assistant Adjutant-General."
With the two letters of recommendation and their indorsements, I proceeded to Ohio, and presented them to Governor Brough, who read them over verycarefully, then returned them to me, and ordered that I be furnished with the necessary recruiting papers and set to work immediately.
Having received the necessary documents, I set to work at once, and in a very short time had procured twenty-one men. With these, I went to Columbus, and reported in person to the Adjutant-General. He read over my order from the Governor, and then said, "Did you raise your men under that order as scouts?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, there a'n't such an organization known in the United States Army Regulations as acompany of scouts. I can't do any thing with such men."
"I can't help that," I replied; "I have acted under authority of the Governor of Ohio."
"Well, let us go and see the Governor."
We carried the order to the Governor, and the Adjutant-General explained to him that there was no such organization known in the Army Regulations.
"Well, Mr. Ruggles," said the Governor, "you go on and raise the men, and assign them to a regiment, and then have them detailed out for scouting purposes."
"That won't do at all, Governor," said I. "I have commanded detailed men long enough; I want a command of my own."
"Well, put your men into the 197th Ohio Infantry, and I will extend your time to recruit and give you a commission as Captain."
"I don't want such a commission, Governor. I don't want to be in the infantry service."
"Very well; I have got to fill that regiment up, because it is needed immediately at Nashville, and the men will have to go into it."
"Then take them and put them there, and I'll go to Washington," said I, and walked out.
I still held the letters of recommendation, with their indorsements. With these I proceeded to Baltimore, where I found Major-General Lewis Wallace, and obtained a pass from him to General Grant's head-quarters, at City Point, Va. I showed General Grant my papers, and told him of my difficulty. He took my papers and addressed them to the War Department, with the following indorsement:
"Head-quarters Armies of the United States,"City Point, Va., October 13, 1864."I know Private Ruggles well, and the services he rendered in Mississippi as a scout. With an independent company of such men as himself, he would be worth more in the Shenandoah Valley, and over the district of country over which Mosby roams, than a regiment of cavalry."I would recommend that he be authorized to raise a battalion of men, and be put in the Department of West Virginia."U. S. Grant,Lieutenant-General."
"Head-quarters Armies of the United States,"City Point, Va., October 13, 1864.
"I know Private Ruggles well, and the services he rendered in Mississippi as a scout. With an independent company of such men as himself, he would be worth more in the Shenandoah Valley, and over the district of country over which Mosby roams, than a regiment of cavalry.
"I would recommend that he be authorized to raise a battalion of men, and be put in the Department of West Virginia.
"U. S. Grant,Lieutenant-General."
Thus approved, General Grant sent me with them to the Secretary of War; but, as I was about to leave his quarters, he said, "Perhaps you had better show these papers to the President." Thus prepared, I bent my way toward Washington, with a somewhat lighter heart than I left the Governor's office, at Columbus, Ohio.
Finding several army officers of my acquaintance at Washington, I showed them my papers, and toldthem that General Grant advised me to show them to the President. My friends said that it was not necessary, so I proceeded at once to the War Department, and handed my papers, in person, to Secretary Stanton. I felt happy when I entered the office, and, though I had no conversation with the Secretary, when I came out I had lowered considerable in my own estimation. The way of doing business at the War Department seemed to me cold and repulsive. I have since been sorry that I did not carry my papers to the President. From the Secretary of War, I went to the Adjutant-General's office, and from there to the Provost-marshal General's office. There I was told to call in a week, and my papers would be ready.
Though I was somewhat crest-fallen when I left Secretary Stanton's office, I am quite sure I was not as much so as many Brigadier-Generals that I have seen making their egress since. It was so general a thing for an officer to enter that office spruced up and dignified, with hopes elated, and then to return chop-fallen and disappointed, that I could not help laughing at those I saw enter so expectant and return so downcast. It is an excellent place to cool a man's military ardor.
At the expiration of seven days, I again called at the office of the Provost-marshal General, and was handed an order of which the following is a copy:
"War Dep't Provost-marshal General's Office,"Washington, D. C., October 21, 1863."To his Excellency the Governor of Ohio:"Sir—Subject to your approval, it is hereby ordered that Corporal Lorain Ruggles, Company H, 20th Ohio Veteran VolunteerInfantry, has authority to proceed to Ohio and raise a company of cavalry, for certain special services, whereas ordered by these head-quarters."Should the Corporal's success warrant it, authority will be given him to raise three additional companies—not more than one company, however, to be under recruitment at one time."As soon as a company is raised, he will report with it at once to these head-quarters. The men must be enrolled under the present existing regulations, for the period of one, two, or three years, as the men may choose to enlist. The company must be raised within twenty days from the time the Corporal commences to recruit."By order of the Secretary of War."James B. Fry,Provost-marshal General."
"War Dep't Provost-marshal General's Office,"Washington, D. C., October 21, 1863."To his Excellency the Governor of Ohio:
"Sir—Subject to your approval, it is hereby ordered that Corporal Lorain Ruggles, Company H, 20th Ohio Veteran VolunteerInfantry, has authority to proceed to Ohio and raise a company of cavalry, for certain special services, whereas ordered by these head-quarters.
"Should the Corporal's success warrant it, authority will be given him to raise three additional companies—not more than one company, however, to be under recruitment at one time.
"As soon as a company is raised, he will report with it at once to these head-quarters. The men must be enrolled under the present existing regulations, for the period of one, two, or three years, as the men may choose to enlist. The company must be raised within twenty days from the time the Corporal commences to recruit.
"By order of the Secretary of War."James B. Fry,Provost-marshal General."
With this I again reported to the Governor of Ohio. He opened the order and commenced to read aloud. When he came to the date, which was 1863, when it should have been 1864, he inquired: "Where have you been for a year past?"
"You know where I have been, Governor," I replied. "You know that that paper is dated wrong."
"Well, don't you know that when a military order is dated wrong it isallwrong."
"Yes; but what shall I do about it?"
"Go back to Washington and get it made right."
"I don't want to spend so much time running about. I would like to raise a company and get back to the frontbefore the war closes." He then finished reading the order. When he had done, I asked him what he thought of it.
"Well," said he, "I would advise you not to do any thing with it as it is."
"That's my mind, exactly.It a'n't what I wanted at all.It looks like making a recruiting officer of me to fill up some fancy regiment. All I wanted was authority to raise acompany. I am subject to your orders. What shall I do—go to recruiting, or go back to the front?"
"I don't know, Corporal, what you had better do."
"Well, if you don't know, I don't; so, I guess I'll leave."
I waited a few days, and then called on him again for orders, and still he did not know what I had better do. I felt as if I had rendered service to the Government that was worthy of some notice from the Chief Executive of my State, and to be treated with such indifference was to me provoking. He might have done one thing or the other: got my papers made right and set me to raising a company, or have had me ordered back to the front; but he did neither.
At length, being disgusted with making any further effort to raise a company, I went back to the front without orders, and reported to the commanding officer of my regiment. Finding that I had no order returning me to duty in the regiment, he refused to have me in his command. I then reported to Major-General Howard, who said that I was subject to order from the War Department, and that he had no authority over me. I remarked, "I guess, then, that I must be out of the service altogether. I'll go and see what General Sherman can do for me." I went to him and told him what Ihad done, and he said to me, "You may remain at my head-quarters until further orders."
I must say that I felt sadly disappointed and disheartened at my failure in raising a command of my own. If I had humored the Governor in the first attempt to raise a company, I would, undoubtedly have been a Captain, but I was determined to have such a command as I wanted or none. The reader must judge for himself whether I have merited it or not.
In about five days after my arrival at the front, General Sherman started on his grand campaign through Georgia. Not a doubt was entertained by the troops of their ability to march triumphant across to the Atlantic coast. Very few there were but who anticipated correctly the point of destination at the outset of the march, and at the prospect before them were highly elated. Never were men in better spirits than when the march commenced.
It was the most decisive and glorious campaign of the war, and yet fraught with the least of personal adventure of any campaign that I have taken part in. My duty was one in common with the other scouts, and the soldiers of theentire army were all scouts. My individual experience was not different from that of the great mass of soldiers.
Our duty was to subsist ourselves and devastate the country as completely as possible, taking good care not to get captured. This we accomplished successfully. The army never lived better and the men never enjoyed better health; and when we reached the Atlantic coast we were in bettercondition physically than when we started from Atlanta. The march occupied a period of seventy-seven days, every day of which we were on the move.
During our progress, though we were cut off from all communication with home, we were not altogether ignorant of General Thomas' glorious victory, and route of the Confederate army under Hood. We learned, by way of the Southern people, of "Hood's disaster," and could plainly comprehend the strategy that had drawn him unwittingly to the defenses at Nashville, and it added not a little to our courage. We plainly saw that the enemy was utterly powerless to resist our advance.
On our arrival at the coast, near Savannah, we were visited by Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War. General Leggett gave me an introduction to him, as "a very efficient and worthy scout and spy," to which he replied, "Yes, I know him."
"Does thePresidentknow you, Mr. Ruggles?" inquired General Leggett, surprised that the Secretary knew me.
"Yes, I expect so; I know him."
The Secretary asked me if I was acquainted about Mobile and New Orleans. I told him that I was not much acquainted about Mobile, but had been there twice, and that I was pretty well acquainted about New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. He asked me if I was willing to make a trip across the country and report to General Granger, and I answered, "Yes, any where."
The next morning I received an order from the War Department to proceed across the country onhorseback, and report for special service to General Granger, at Mobile, Alabama. I was not limited in time to make the trip.
It was some time in the month of January, 1865, that I set out on my journey. I traveled very leisurely, and visited every place of any importance that lay near my route. I had been instructed by the Secretary of War to gather as much information as I could while passing through the country. To accomplish this, I made frequent stops to converse with the people, and I frequently rode many miles, to one side or the other of my route, to find people that were influential and leading members of society, so that I might learn the sentiments of those who wielded a controlling influence. I traveled in the disguise of a citizen carrying my order from the War Department with me. It was not often that I ventured to carry such papers with me.
I found that most of the people were willing to give up to the Federal authorities—not because they had been wrong, but because by the force of war they had become overpowered and exhausted. While there was a desire for peace, there was also a hatred of the Federal Government. A few were satisfied with the old Government as it was, and had reluctantly been drawn into rebellion by the force of the elements around them. Such people hailed the overthrow of the Confederate Government with joy.
"Hood's disaster" and "Sherman's raid" had revealed to the Southern people their weakness in a more alarming view than they had ever before seen it. It seemed, in their case, that the last straw hadbeen laid upon the camel's back, and the overloaded beast was unable to rise.
The most of the way I enjoyed my journey finely. Sometimes I would lay over several days, on account of rain and bad roads. Wherever I stopped I found something to interest me. I made it a point to make myself as interesting and agreeable to the people that entertained me as possible.
I spent three weeks in Florida. There I found the people more disheartened than anywhere else in my route; in fact, resistance to the Federal army had been given up. During my stay there I spent several days with a planter by the name of Fanshaw, who lives near the coast, at St. Marks. He was formerly from the State of New York. I passed myself while there by my real name, and as a brother of General Ruggles, and represented that I was on my way home to Bolivar County, Mississippi, from Savannah, Georgia, where I had been on business pertaining to the Confederate Government. I gave him such an account of the general state of affairs all over the Confederate States that he did not doubt, in the least, the statements that I made. When I called at his house I had no intentions of remaining there long, but his hospitality was so strongly urged upon me that I accepted it to enable my horse to rest.
While staying there I was much amused by reading a story in the Natchez (Miss.) Courier concerning myself. How the paper had made its way there I can not tell. Miss Ella, a daughter of Mr. F.'s, handed me the piece to read, remarking that it wasone of the curious incidents of the war. Little did she think that in presenting it to me she was making it doubly so.
The story was written by Mr. James Dugan, a friend of mine in the 14th Illinois Infantry. Sergeant Downs, of the 20th Ohio, had related to Mr. Dugan several of the incidents in my experience as scout; and from one of those he wrote a romance, in which I figured as the hero, giving instead of my full name only the initial letter to my surname, together with the name of my company and regiment. It was given to the public as a narrative of facts, and the announcement made that an extended history of my services would be forthcoming from the able pen of Captain Downs. It was first published in 1863, in the paper I have before mentioned.
Coming to me as it did, under such peculiar circumstances, it amused me exceedingly. I took good care, however, that my lady friend did not find out that I was the hero of the story. My feelings at the time can be better imagined by perusing it. It ran as follows:
"On board the magnificent steamer 'Imperial,' on her passage from St. Louis to New Orleans, in the month of October, A. D. 1860, reclining upon one of those elegantly-furnished sofas in her sumptuous cabin, might have been seen the hero of our story wrapped in a 'brown study.'
"His form was attractive and commanding; something over a medium size, and well proportioned. His features were pleasant, and his hair brown and wavy, extending in a rich profusion of glossy curlsdown over his shoulders. His eyes were of a deep blue, and as sharp and piercing as those of an eagle. His forehead was broad and high, imparting a look of more than usual intelligence; indeed, he was what might be called a handsome fellow, and though he has passed the age of five and twenty, he looked as fair and fresh as though but just of age. Lorain R——s (the subject of our sketch) was a resident of Ohio, but was then on his way to New Orleans on business.
"It is said that Lorain once loved a beautiful and accomplished young lady of an amiable disposition, and, withal, of no inconsiderable wealth; but upon the very day upon which they were to have been married he followed her remains to their long home. Three years had passed since then, and he had found no fair one to fill the heart thus made vacant.
"As he sits reclined upon that sofa, he is meditating upon the strange vicissitudes of life. Recollections of scenes in his own experience pass vividly before him, and, as if but yesterday, he strolls for the last time in the green meadow. Just as the declining sun is shedding his last lingering rays across the landscape, accompanied by his own angelic Belinda, and as they are about to pass the gate to her father's house, they pause for a moment, and with her soft fingers playfully twirling his glossy curls, she presses her lips to his and whispers, 'My own dear Lorain!'
"Since then three summers have passed without obliterating the blank in his heart caused by the transfer of his fair one to the spirit land, and hewonders whether, indeed, there was but one heart born whose emotions of love can soften his. Again and again he recalls the scenes of his love until his eyes are suffused with tears. Dashing them away, he starts from his seat and mingles with the gay crowd that are passengers with him.
"Among those passengers was a young man by the name of Charles Rollins, who had just finished a course of education at one of our northern colleges, and was then on his way home. He was a young man of an ardent temperament, of fine appearance and accomplished manners. His parents resided at Natchez, Mississippi.
"Lorain sought relief from the recollections that had passed him by seeking to make the acquaintance of those around him. The fine manly bearing of Charles attracted his attention, and he at once sought an interview, which proved to be agreeable. Frequent interviews were had, and their acquaintance soon ripened into friendship.
"Charles had a sister—an only one—by the name of Annie. She was then entering upon her twenty-fourth year; and though not in the strict sense of the word handsome, she was, nevertheless, good looking, and possessed of what is of more consequence than beauty—all the graces that adorn the life of a devoted, exemplary Christian. She had early embraced the Christian religion, and her pure devotion, genial nature, and agreeable manners won for her the love and respect of all who knew her.
"Annie had received the attentions of several young men of unexceptionable character andreputation, possessed, withal, of that worldly competence and business tact that would have placed her, beyond doubt, above want for means to administer to her worldly comforts; and yet, strange to say, she saw reason to decline their offers. Why she had failed to love was known, if at all, only to herself. Her parents would have been pleased to have seen their daughter united in holy wedlock to a worthy young man that she loved; nevertheless, they had too much respect for her judgment to question the propriety of her decisions and the reasons for them, and the only reason, perhaps, that they could assign was that old and common one, 'matches are made in heaven.'
"The entire passage from St. Louis passed off agreeably to our new-made friends, and, sooner than they could have wished it, the signal was sounded to land at the beautiful town of Natchez. There Lorain was unable to refuse the pressing invitation from Charles to stop and spend a few days, or at least a night, with him at his father's house.
"It is not necessary to describe the introduction that followed, nor the welcome that was extended. Suffice it to say, the journey was not renewed the next day, nor the next. A week rolled around, and then another, and another, until three months had passed, and still Lorain was a welcome guest at the home of the Rollinses. At the end of that time Lorain and Annie were engaged to be married.
"At last business became so urgent that Lorain was obliged to resume his journey to New Orleans. The hour came for departure, and he sought a lastinterview with Annie, to give her the parting farewell.
"During the winter of 1860 and '61, the country, North and South, had become agitated with political excitement, which ran so high that the two sections seemed in imminent danger of becoming involved in a civil war. The South claimed that the North had encroached upon her rights, and even went so far as to threaten to withdraw from the Federal compact and take up the sword in vindication of her rights.
"As Lorain was about to leave, Annie still clung to his hand, and said: 'My dear Lorain, before you leave me, I want you to make me one promise.'
"'Well, Annie, what is it?'
"'You know, Lorain, that our nation is being shaken to its center by political excitement, and it is more than probable that before I shall see you again the Southern States will secede from the Union, and the country become involved in war. Promise me that in case the South becomes engaged in war with the North, you will not take up arms against her.'
"'My dear Annie, as much as I love you, I can not make you that promise. The North is my birthplace and home. I love and respect the flag under which I was cradled, and if the country needs my services to preserve her glorious nationality, I am under sacred obligations to render assistance.'
"She pressed his hand warmly and drew him closer; her eyes filled with tears and her bosom heaved with emotion as she said, 'Make me, then, at least this promise—if the country does becomeinvolved in war, with you upon one side and Charles upon the other, and you should chance to meet him as your enemy, you will, dearest Lorain,spare my brother.'
"'Yes,' he uttered, as he imprinted a farewell kiss upon her nectar lips.
"Time rolled on, and, as had been anticipated, one after another of the Southern States seceded and took up arms against the North, and involved the country in a civil war. Charles Rollins, as his sister had feared, identified himself with the interest of his own State, and enlisted in a Mississippi regiment of infantry. Lorain R——s, true to his country and his country's flag, rallied at the first call of the President to save his country from destruction.
"His devoted patriotism and noble bearing, and his obstinate bravery in the hour of battle, won for him the confidence of his commanding officers, who often sent him on missions of danger. General Grant, having learned of his reliability, address, and daring, frequently sent him to obtain information of the enemy's movements.
"In November, 1861, preparatory to moving the grand army south into Mississippi, and while the troops were being concentrated in the vicinity of Lagrange, Tenn., General Grant sent Mr. R——s out, on horseback, to find the enemy's advanced pickets. It was in the night, and extremely dark, which rendered the undertaking a hazardous one. He felt his way along with utmost caution, and had made a distance of twenty miles, when, in the midnight darkness, not six feet in advance of him, hewas confronted by a single sentry, standing in the middle of the road, who challenged him with 'Halt! who comes there?'
"It was a desperate situation, and Mr. R——s determined to make the best of it. 'Friend, with the countersign,' he answered, drawing his revolver.
"'Advance and give the countersign,'" was the reply.
Mr. R——s did advance, and, thrusting his revolver to the breast of the sentry, fired. The flash of his piece revealed to him the face of Charles Rollins! 'Oh heavens!' he cried, and sprang from his horse and embraced the fallen form. 'Charles! Charles! speak! if but once; for God's sake, speak!'
"It was too late; the ball had penetrated his heart, and Charles was dead. The sharp report aroused his sleeping companions, who were lying by the roadside, a little distance from him, and the noise they made as they sprang for their guns warned Mr. R——s of his danger, who quickly sprang to his saddle and dashed away unharmed, but not without being fired at by the remaining pickets. He made a safe return, and reported to General Grant, but since that time his acquaintances have noticed that he has become a changed man."
I arrived at General Granger's head-quarters in Mobile, Alabama, April 9, 1865, the next day after the capture of Blakely. I had traveled in all, since leaving Savannah, a distance of nine hundred miles, and that without molestation.
During my journey, two of the most important events of the war had transpired. General Lee had surrendered his command to General Grant, andGeneral Johnston had surrendered his command to General Sherman. Kirby Smith's command, west of the Mississippi, was the only armed force that had not surrendered.
The returned Confederate soldiers, wherever I met them in my route, had expressed themselves as satisfied with their attempt to sustain the Confederacy, and gave it up as a lost cause. Experience is said to be the "best school-master." The Confederate soldiers evidently thought so.
A few days after my arrival, the intelligence was received that President Lincoln had been murdered. It was too sad intelligence for the soldiers to believe, nor would they believe it until officially confirmed. Then their anger knew no bounds, and it was with the utmost difficulty that commanding officers restrained their men from committing retaliatory depredations.
In the midst of a nation's rejoicing, she was called to mourn the death of the man who had steered the Ship of State clear of the shoals that threatened her destruction, was to be swept from the helm as the ship was entering the haven of peace, and within sight of her desired moorings. While it was hard to deprive him thus of the sweet anticipations in prospect before him, it was nevertheless necessary, in the wise directions of a beneficent Providence. The murder of Abraham Lincoln was necessary as the closing act of the great rebellion. The picture of the scene, revolting as it had been, was not complete until the finishing shades of blackness had been added by the hand of an assassin.
The war was now virtually closed, and during our stay at Mobile General Granger had nothing for me to do. In July he moved to New Orleans, taking most of his troops with him. It was generally supposed that we were going there to take transports home to our respective States, to be mustered out; but in this we were disappointed. At that place General Granger ordered me to report to the Provost-marshal for duty as a detective. Why I was so often selected for such duty is more than I can tell. If I had all other necessary qualifications for that business, my dislike for it was so great as to overcome them. I went to the Provost-marshal with my order, and told him that I was at his disposal for duty, but that I had objections to engaging in that kind of service—not that I was unwilling to obey my superior officers, but simply because I had a dislike for the business that it was impossible for me to overcome. I told him that I had twice tried to operate as a detective and had failed, and the more I tried it the less I liked it. It was a kind of duty that was not congenial to my nature, and it seemed to me like low business. I was satisfied that there were those who were better adapted to such business than I, but if he insisted upon it I would go to work and do the best that I knew how.
He told me that he had but very little detective business to do, and that he did not wish to have me engaged in business that was not agreeable to my feelings. He told me to return to General Granger's head-quarters, and that if he found occasion to need my services he would send for me.
I have since had reason to suspect that setting me to work as a detective was simply a show of something for me to do, on the part of commanding officers, that I might be retained in the service longer, lest, in the future, something might turn up that would give them occasion to need me. At that time there was great clamoring among the soldiers to be mustered out, and orders had been issued to muster out all detached men who were not actively engaged.
We remained in New Orleans until the latter part of July, when we embarked on board the transports and went to Galveston, Texas. At that place there was as little for me to do as there had been in New Orleans. Having no use for me, General Granger sent me to Columbus, Texas, a distance of one hundred and sixty miles inland, to report to General Grierson.
I made the journey alone and on horseback, dressed as a citizen. For the last year and a half of my service, I very rarely wore any thing but a citizen's dress. I occupied five days in making the journey, and got through to General Grierson's head-quarters without having experienced a single incident of interest. That kind of scouting was dry business to me. It is excitement that makes the life of a scout interesting.
I made several trips of from twenty to sixty miles inland for General Grierson, but none of them was attended with any incident. The fact was, the war was over, and there was nothing for a scout to do. General Kirby Smith had before this surrendered hiscommand, and there was no regularly organized Confederate force to contend with. The only disturbance was from lawless, evil-disposed persons, who roamed over the country, robbing both loyal and disloyal alike, their sole object being plunder.
In September General Grierson sent me alone to the Upper Colorado, a distance of four hundred miles, with instructions to see whether the rebs were concentrating a force or fortifying at any point along the river. I made the trip on horseback, in my usual citizen's dress. Very much of the distance was sparsely settled, which rendered my journey at least a lonesome one. A naturalist, no doubt, would have found in that route enough to have made a volume interesting, but to me nothing was of so much interest as the end of my journey. During the entire route it was the same dull monotony day after day.
On my return, and when within four days' ride of Columbus, I fell in with a party of outlaws numbering forty men. They wore uniforms exactly like General Grierson's cavalry, and had United States saddles and carbines. At first I supposed that they were a detachment of his command, but fortunately I discovered my mistake before having told who I was. They plundered indiscriminately, but left the impression, wherever they went, that they were a detachment of United States troops, acting under General Grierson's orders. I traveled with them three days.
As soon as I found out what they were I proposed to join their organization. This I did for my own safety. I represented myself as having been aplanter in Mississippi, and that I had lost all my property by the war—a part of it by the Confederate army and a part of it by the Lincoln army; and I also told them that I was determined to get my property back in some way, and did not care a d—m how nor who I got it from. My proposition was accepted, and it was arranged that I should go on to Columbus and transact some business that I had there, and, if possible, secure by some means, fair or foul, a uniform, saddle, and carbine, and then return to a certain plantation that they would show me in our route.
The last day that I was with them, we passed the plantation to which I was to return when I had completed my business at Columbus. Toward night they plundered a rich planter who had never been at heart really disloyal. He had acted with the Confederate Government simply because compelled to, but at his earliest opportunity had taken the required oath. As the outlaws were taking his property, he remonstrated, and told them that he was a Union man, and that General Grierson had promised to protect him. They told him that he was no Union man, but a d—d lying secesh. They insulted him shamefully, and then, having secured what plunder they wanted, made their way off, leaving him to suppose that the outrage had been committed by Federal cavalry.
During my ride with them I became quite familiar with their countenances, and also learned where several of them resided. I also found out that they did not, except when on a plundering expedition,remain in a body, but separated to their homes, meeting occasionally, however, to arrange for new expeditions, but never twice in the same place, lest their haunts might be discovered. Shortly after plundering the planter that I have mentioned, they turned off on another road and left me to pursue my journey alone.
After repeating to General Grierson the result of my trip, I mentioned the incident about the outlaws, and their having plundered the planter, but did not tell him that I had agreed to return to them. The day following my report, the planter came in with complaint to General Grierson that his cavalry had plundered him of his horses and mules, and other property, and also had shamefully insulted him.
General Grierson was surprised to hear such complaints, and told the man that he must be mistaken; but he insisted that he knew they were his men; they had United States uniforms, saddles, and carbines exactly like his men. The General then called the Adjutant, to know whether he had sent a detachment out, but none had been sent. The planter still insisted that it was United States cavalry that committed the outrage. Recalling to mind what I had reported to him the day before, the General mistrusted who had done it and sent for me. I at once recognized the planter as the one whom I had seen plundered by the outlaws.
The next day I accompanied a detachment of cavalry, in disguise, to hunt up the outlaws. We proceeded at once to the residences of those that I had learned, and were so fortunate as to find themat home, all of whom we captured. I took good care to be seen by them as little as possible. I do not think I was recognized by any of the number that we captured. Every one of them were loud in their declarations of good behavior, and expressed astonishment that they should be so treated. The arrest of a part of the band put a damper upon the rest, and they cleared out, or ceased their operations. I heard of no more complaints during the time I remained there.
From what experience I have had in the secret service, I am of the opinion that the Government has been entirely too lenient with that class of men. Nothing but the severest penalty of the law will ever stop them from their depredations. They will continue to give trouble in the South so long as they are allowed to run at large. They are possessed of none of the finer feelings of humanity that can be reached by moral persuasion, and nothing but physical restraint can control them.
Sympathy for those that have erred is a fine and commendable element in the human heart, but when carried to extremes is productive of disastrous results. I think the entire secession element of the South has received, and is now receiving, more favor at the hands of the Government than is consistent for the safety of our republican institutions. People who have committed crime should be made to feel that they have done so by inflicting upon them the proper penalty. Let rebels prove themselves "prodigal sons" before being embraced in the arms of our good Uncle Samuel.
On the 2d day of December, 1865, I received an order from General Grant to proceed to Columbus, Ohio, for discharge. On my arrival there, I reported to the Provost-marshal, who refused to discharge me, because I had no copy of the orders under which I had reported from one commanding officer to another. My business had been such that it was not safe for me to carry them, and, for the same reason, my orders were generally given orally. I went to General Leggett and told him my difficulty, who at once wrote me a statement to Captain Barber, Provost-marshal, setting forth his knowledge of my services, and why I had not preserved my orders of detail. General Wiles also gave me a similar statement, of which the following are copies: