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 the Mississippi_: "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.