There are obstructions in "the course of true love," even in Tennessee, and one of these was the difficulty of procuring "the papers," as there was no clerk's office in the county, or, at least, no clerk to attend to the office. Again were the resources of the General commanding brought into requisition, and again did he prove himself "equal to the emergency." The following document, authorized by General Rosecrans, dictated by General Garfield, and promulgated by Major Wiles, shows how men get licenses to marry in those counties in this department where martial law alone exists: State of Tennessee, Rutherford County. _Greeting_: _To any person empowered by law to perform marriage in Tennessee:_ You are hereby authorized to join together in marriage Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean, and this shall be your authority for so doing. Witness my hand and official seal of the Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. WILLIAM M. WILES, Major 44th Indiana, and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. [Illustration: Seal] State of Tennessee, Rutherford County. Be it remembered that, on this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863, personally appeared before me, Major William M. Wiles, Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, one W. T. Mendenhall, Assistant Surgeon of Hospital No. 5, of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, on oath says that he is acquainted with Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean; that said parties are of legal age to marry, without the consent of their parents or guardians, and that he knows of no lawful reason why said parties should not marry. [Signed] W. T. MENDENHALL. Subscribed and sworn to this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863. WILLIAM M. WILES, Major and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland. [Illustration: Seal] Now, therefore, I, William M. Wiles, Major of 44th Indiana Volunteers, and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, in consideration of the fact that this county has been placed under military law, and civil courts and laws, with their officers, are not in existence, do empower John Hogarth Lozier, a regularly ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Chaplain of the 37th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, to join in _Holy Matrimony_ the above-named parties, and this shall be his full and proper authority for so doing. Given this 12th day of May, A. D., 1863. Witness my hand and seal, the day and year above mentioned,