"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_." 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_. 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_." I was disappointed with General Sherman's decision. 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_." 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_." "By R. R. TOWNES, _Lieutenant-Colonel and A. A. G._"