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 Volunteer Infantry, 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 is _all_ wrong." "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 front _before 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 a _company_. 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."