"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 a _good_ company, 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 20th Ohio 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 very carefully, 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 a _company 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."