Perils of scout-life; or, Exploits and adventures of a government scout and spy in the great rebellion

Front matter

^ o

.V

V

Preface

It was with much difficulty that I was prevailed upon to give to the public a narrative of my experience as a scout and spy. It was the intense interest with which the commanding generals and others have listened to my narratives, whenever I have related, them, and their earnest entreaties to have them published, that induced me to do so.

I entered the army with purely patriotic motives, with a desire to sustain and perpetuate the noble ingtitutions that had been purchased by the blood of our fathers. I valued the cause of liberty as well worth all the sacrifice that it might cost to save it. I saw at once that the conflict was to be one involving great principles, and that in the end Truth and Justice must prevail.

The part that I have borne in putting down the great rebellion is the one that naturally fell to me by the force of circumstances, and entirely unsolicited. My relation in the affairs of life seems to have been such as to have just adapted me to that part that fell b PREFACE.

to my lot to act. I liave been a cabin-boy on tlie canal, from wliicli I graduated to the position of canaldriver. I have been a Frontier Ranger, a Rocky Mountain Trapper and gold-hunter on the eastern slope. I have been a cattle-trader at the North, a raft-pilot at the South, and an Arkansas school-master.

The incidents that I have narrated are all of them facts "that have occurred in my experience, and, without further apology, I submit them to an indulgent and candid public, and claim that every scene narrated here is the unvarnished truth.

C. L. RUGGLES.

Chapter I

Par(!ntage— Childhood incidents — Subsequent occupations — Driven from Mississippi — Works on rebel fortifications — Escape to Illinois — Enlists as a soldier — Supposed to have deserted — How he got his name — Examination by the surgeon 11-17

CHAPTER n.

Moves to Cincinnati — Detailed to guard the forts — Meets a secesh lady — First scout — Unexpected visit of the colonel — The cWll — Bad report— The mischief investigated — Attempts to discover the rogues — Innocent man accused — The accusers skedaddle — Who got the chickens. . . .18-25

Chapter III

*' Marching orders — First battle — Arrives at Fort Donelson — The surrender — Goes North with prisoners — Meets an old friend as a rebel captain — The captain attempts to bribe him — Expedition up the Tennessee River — Touching incident— Battle of Shiloh — Captures an Enfield — Recommended as a scout 26-34

Chapter IV

Rumored attack upon Grand Junction — " General Bunker" sent out as spy — Passes liimself as a rebel soldier — Falls in with rebel cavalry — Visits a rebel camp— Attempts to deprive him of his revolver — Discovers a Yankee foragfe party — Undertakes to return — captured by Yankees; and robbed of his revolver and money — Passes as a rebel spy — Sent to the provost-marshal — Sent to General Hurlbut — Returned to Grand Junction ^ 35-50

Chapter V

Fired at by a citizen— The sick overseer — How he was cured — Pickets fired on — Trip to White Church — Visits General Van Dorn — Meets a rebel spy — Reports to General Leggett — Grand Junction evacuated — Again sees the rebel spy — Attempt to arrest him — Drinks wine with the rebel General Jackson — Discovers a hole in the fence. 51-66

Chapter VI

The value of the oath — Attempt to take " Bunker's" life — Sent to Grand Junction — The hazardous ride — The countersign — The chase — Unfortunate occurrence — The chase abandoned — Meets with guerrillas — They invite him to drink — Renewed vigilance — The battle of Middlebm-g . 67-73

Chapter VII

Attempts to visit the enemy's camp — Learns the strength and position of the enemy — Return intercepted — Perilous situation — Loses his mule — Frightened by men of his own regiment — The plan to capture the enemy — The negro's report — The forces discovered — Disposes of a rebel picket — Reports his discovery 74r-82

8 CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII

Sent to find the enemy's pickets — Suspicious circumstance — Sick child — Captures three citizens standing picket — Releases them — Fails asleep — Perilous situation — Fortunate turn of afiFairs — Attack on the pickets — A veiy pious man — He proves a rebel spy 83-90

Chapter IX

Sent to Somerville — Finds himself a prisoner — Taken to Cold Water — Meets with old acquaintances — Is paroled — Runs with the 2d Arkansas Cavaliy — Goes to Lumpkin's Mills — Interview ^\ith General Price — Stays all night with his brother, the rebel general — Return to Bolivar — Reports to General Ross — Obtains the colonel's horse, and returns to the enemy — Runs away from the enemy 91-1 OC

Chapter X

Sent to Grand Junction to capture guerrillas — Suspicious incident — Strategy — Orders disobeyed — The rebel flag — The very kind secesh lady- Out of the frying-pan into the fire — Guerrillas watching for them — The attack — The prisoner — Result of the trip 101-113

Chapter XI

Sent to Lagrange — Observes two cavaliymen — AiTival — Waits for the cavalry — Accompanies them out — Takes his departure — Is pursued — Evades the pursuit — Finds himself cornered — Crosses the Cypress Swamp — Robbed by outlaws — The fate of the robbers li3-134

Chapter XII

Starts to find General Bragg's forces — " Woods" the secesh farmer — Guernllas washing stockings — Finds Bragg's advance — Recognized as a Yankee spy — Ordered off his mule to be shot — The clamor of the crowd — Recognized as a Confederate spy — Rebel surgeon vouches for him — Is released — Gray-headed rebel brought to justice — The sutler of the 2d Arkansas Cavalry a prisoner — What became of the guerrillas that were washing stockings 135-136

Chapter XIII

Reconnoiters Hickory Flats with a squad of seven men — Shoots at tlie mark — Orders to march with two days' rations — Cause of the alarm — Reconnoiter bej'oud Whitesville — l^fajor Mudd's trap — " Bunker" entices the rebs into it— Rides into the trap behind a rebel captain — Sent out beyond Pocahontas — Passes as a rebel artillerist— Secesh citizen stands {»iard for him — The very kind secesh lady — The anxious "wife — Discovers guerrillas burning a human being .137-155

Chapter XIV

Starts on a trip for General Lauman — His instructions — A Confederate widow — Discovers a squad of rebel soldiers — Captures part of their ai-ms — Learns the whereabouts of guerrillas — Attempt to capture them — Guerrillas escape — Captures a prisoner — Cause of guerrillas' escape — The " General" and squad are arrested — Unfortunate state of affiiirs — Informality of charge and specifications 156-166

Chapter XV

Assistance of friends — Fails to get a trial — Gloomy prospects— Evidence accumulates — Guard-house incident — The " General" concludes to help

CONTENTS. 9

himself— Narrow escape from guerrillas — The capture — Reaches his regiment — Himself and squad released 167-177

Chapter XVI

Starts for Grenada — Instructions — Is captured — Returns to "Water Valley — Starts again — Arrives at Grenada — Condition of Price's army — He returns — Again sent to Grenada — Proposes some fun — Plan of strategy — Plan unnecessary — Returns with rebel cavalry — Bivouac at Big Springs — The attack — More fun than bargained for — The'result. 178-187

Chapter XVII

The forage party — Runaways — Daring scout — Narrow escape — -The line of battle — Safe return — Scout reports — Assumes the character of a rebel prisoner — Finds a friend — How he introduced himself — Whore he belongs — Thebuniiug of Holly Springs — The heroine — What she captured — Shows partiality — Offers assistance — Rebel doctor executed . . . 188-199

Chapter XVIII

Arrival in Memphis — Daring robbery — Detailed by the provost-marshal general — Assumes the character of a rebel major — Secesh acquaintances — Captures a rebel mail — A jollilication — A rebel trader — Plan to run the pickets — The escape of the outlaws 200-212

Chapter XIX

Reports to Majoi'-General McPherson — Instructions — Disguise — Starts for Vicksburg — Changes his route — Reports to General Denver — Acquaintance with a cotton-buyer — Plan to make money — Visit to guerrilla Sol. Street — The arrangement consummated — Visit to General Price — Arrival at Jackson — Robbed of his tield-glasses — Introduction to President Davis — Visit to Vicksbm-g— Visit to Edwards' Station — Meets his bear-hunting comrades — Visits Black River Bridge — Robbed of his horse — The return — Reports to General McPherson — Reports to General Grant ". . . . 21^-227

Chapter XX

Return to Mississippi — Instructions — Visit to Troy — Movement of cavalry — Reports to General Denver — Is arrested^Federal cavahy driven back — Is released — Visits Greenwood — Journey to the Mississippi River — The perilous crossing — Again arrested — Interview with General Prentiss — Takes the oath of allegiance — Meets a friend — Makes his escape — Reports to General Grant 228-240

Chapter XXI

Return to the regiment — The Henry rifle — The march from Millikeu's Bend — The tug of war — The army crosses the Mississippi — Capture of Port Gibson — Battle of Raymond — Amusing capture — The charge on Jackson — Battle of Champion Hills — The rebel courier — Sharp-shooting — Tlie gallant charge — The march to Vicksbm-g — The place besieged 341-254

Chapter XXII

First sharp-shooting at Vicksburg — Silences two guns — The rifle-pit — ■ Shoots a Carolinian — The Carolinian's comrade — Outshoots a squad of sixteen — The defiant rebel — Shoots for Generals McPherson and Logan — Beats the Parrot rifles — Joke on the Adjutant-General — Visit to Admiral Portei —The French spy — The disclosures — Capture of a rebel dispatch— The fate of the spy 355-209

T*

10 CONTENTS.

Chapter XXIII

Sent for by General Grant — Insti'uctions — Crosses Black River — Is captured by rebel cavalry — Sent to General DeVieu — The interview — Passes as Johnston's spy — The attempt to escape — The pursuit — Fired at by Federal pickets — Again fired at by the enemy — The pursuers driven back — Again fired at by Federal pickets — The alarm — Reports to General Osterhaus — Reports to General Grant 270-280

Chapter XXIV

Visit to Chickasaw Landing — Surrender of Vicksbui'g — Visit to the city — The paroled Major — The Yankee trick — Returns to Vicksburg — Made detective — Is sent to Yazoo City — Attends a guerrilla organization — Makes them a speech — Returns to Vicksbmg 281-289

Chapter XXV

Taken sick with the ague — Encounters his Satanic Majesty — The Devil afraid of General Grant — Expedition to Bogue Chitto Creek — Captures a rebel Colonel — Enlists as a veteran — Makes a speech to the soldiers.

290-299 CHAPTER XXVI.

Frightened by a dead Colonel — Burns Confederate corn in face of the enemy — Gets into a tight place — A frightened Major — Captures information — A headstrong Captain gobbled up — Captures a rebel Provost-marshal General-^Eucounter with General Ross' s cavalrj^ — A strange adventure — Races with a rebel Colonel — A hard-hearted woman . 300-325

Chapter XXVII

Starts home on veteran furlough — Suspected of being a rebel spy — Commissioned officer serves him at the table — Kind attentions at home — Si-

• lences an old maid — Returns to the front — Shot at twenty-one times — ■ The remedy — A Union lady — Tlie dwarf weaver — The weaver beheaded — Goes into Marietta as a spy — Confederate side of the lines — Escape from the rebs — General McPlierson's death — Hard fighting 326

Chapter XXVIII

Croes to Ohio to recruit — Raises twenty-one men — Difficulty with the Governor — Visits Lieutenant-General Grant — Order from the War Department — Again in difficulty — Runs away from the Governor — Reports to General Slierman — Georgia raid — An amusing coincident — Reports to General Granger, at Mobile — Reports to General Grierson, in Texas — Malics a trip to the Upper Colorado — Incident at General Grant's lieadquarters — The war over . .351-381

Chapter XXIX

Ludicrous effect of fear — A Corporal outflanks a Captain — A good Union man — A touching appeal — A scene among the wounded — An old Secesh discovers his mistake — Suggestions from experience — Concluding thoughts — Certificates and endorsements 382-400

THE

PERILS OF SCOUT-LIFE.

Chapter I

Parentage — Childhood incidents — Subsequent occupations — Driren from Mississippi — Works on rebel fortifications — Escape to Illinois — Enlists^ as a soldier — Supposed to have deserted — How he got his name — Examination by the Surgeon.

I WAS born in the town of Copley, Summit County, Ohio, on the ITth day of June, 1823, and at the time I entered the army was thirty nine years of age. My father's name was Alfred E-uggles. At the time of his death he was living with his second wife. His family numbered twelve sons and seven daughters. I am the youngest of seven children by my father's second wife.

My father was a blacksmith by trade, and all of his sons, except myself, were taught this trade, under his personal instruction. Lorenzo Ruggles, my father's second son by his first wife, after having finished his trade, was sent to college and educated. He is the General Ruggles of the Confederate army.

When I was ten years of age my father died, leaving a large farm to be disposed of by a will. The children went to law, and spent the entire pre perty in breaking the will and settling the estate. In consequence of that I was thrown upon my own labor for my support at a very early age.

The next summer, after my father's death, I hired out as cabin-boy on board of one of the packet-boats running on the Ohio Canal. I continued for three summers to follow the canal in that capacity, and for four summers following I was a canal driver. The last three seasons I drove the same team, and at the end of the third season I received from the Transportation Company a prize of ten dollars for having kept my team in the best order.

The winter following, my seventh season on the canal, I went down the Mississippi River to Arkansas, and spent the season chopping steamboat wood. While thus employed on Island Twenty-eight, I had the fortune to kill a very large black bear, which I sold to a steamboat captain for what seemed to me at that time a great price. The incident turned my attention to trapping and bear hunting. I spent several successive winters in hunting and trapping in the wilds of Arkansas. In the winter of 1851 and 1852 I was employed in hunting wild hogs in the Yazoo bottoms, for Peter Nash, of Vicksburg, Miss. I was thus engaged at the time that the fourteen French hunters were killed by wild hogs in the Yazoo bottoms. I spent one year as an overseer for Mr. James Ford, of Memphis, Tenn., on the French palace plantation, near the fort of Island No. 60. My summers were usually spent on the Mississippi ani^ its tributaries. In the summer of 1859 I wfent to Pike's Peali, and thence to Salt Lake. The winter of 1860 and 1861 I was at work on White Kiver, Ark., and had several hands at work with me, filling a contract for shingles for a man by the name of Hanner, in Bolivar County, Mississippi.

In the spring I commenced to deliver the shingles, hut Mr. Hanner refused to receive them, on the ground that the country was engaged in war. His refusal td receive them provoked me, and I said to him, "All you need is a good thrashing, and then you'll behave yourself and not talk so." That enraged him, and he turned and left me, muttering vengeance' as he went. An hour later he returned with a party of men, threatening to hang me if he should catch me, but I was not to be found. Mr. Hanner did not accuse me of being an abolitionist or a Northern man. He was soon after made Colonel of the 17th Missis^ppi Zouaves. Knowing that my life was in danger th^re, I made my way to Memphis, Tenn.

At Memphis, I found the secession element decidedly too hot for me. I saw no other way for me to do but "aid and comfort" the secession movement or leave tlie country.

Lying at the levee was a steamboat just getting up steam, destined, it was said for St. Louis, Mo. She* had on board a cargo of picks, spades, wheelbarrows, and whisky. I took passage in her and went to Columbus, Ky., and there she stopped and commenced to discharge her cargo. I soon learned that she was going no further.

At* that place I came across Mr. James Ford, for whom I had been an overseer on the French palace plantation. He gave me a warm greeting, and said that he was glad that I had come. He was at that time in command of the post, and engaged in fortifying the place. He persuaded me io take charge of a gang of negroes and work on the forts, which I did, to kill all suspicion until an opportunity occurred for me to escape. "When I had been there engaged for five days, the steamboat Amelia came up the river and landed, on her way to Cairo, 111. I happened to know the pilot, and told him that I was in a tight place, and by his assistance I secreted myself on board the boat and went to Cairo. It was the last steamer that was allowed to pass by Columbus, Ky., until the place was captured by the Federal army.

Jrom Cairo I went to Toledo, 0. Recruiting for the Federal army was going on rapidly all over the North. In August, 1861,1 visited the principal cities in Ohio, in search of a company of sharpshooters, in which to enlist. I found several such organizations, but none of them were officered by men that suited me. In the month of December, while at Columbus, Ohio, I met Lieutenant Downs, of the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with a squad of ten men, on his way to Trumbull County to recruit. Liking the appearance of his men, I enlisted, on condition that he would furnish me with an Enfield rifle.

From Columbus we took the first train of cars to Cleveland; it was late in the evening when we arrived. Passing a boot and shoe store that was yet open, I obtained leave of the Lieutenant to remain long enough to purchase a pair of boots before going to our lodgings. The Lieutenant and party did not stop, but continued on to the hotel. After purchasing my boots, I got into an interesting conversation with the shopkeeper, and remained somewhat longer than was necessary. I had been intrusted to the care of Corporal Grinnell, by the Lieutenant, and my long absence had created a suspicion in the mind of the Corporal that I had deserted. He had also heard Lieutenant Bostwick, while in Columbus, advise Lieutenant Downs not to enlist me, for fear I would run away. At last he started out with three men in search of me, and found me still at the shop. I have since had many a joke with Lieutenant Bostwick and Corporal Grinnell about their suspecting that I would desert. They have been among my warmest friends in the army. The next morning, at eleven o'clock, we reached Warren. At that place the party dispersed to their homes, and I was furnished boarding at the Eagle House, where I remained for ten days.

On Monday, January 8, 1862, we met to go to the regiment, then at Camp King, near Covington, Ky. The squad had increased by accession of recruits to-i t>yenty men. Our journey passed off pleasantly, av^ • in two days' time we reached our regiment. The party that went home with the Lieutenant had carried their knapsacks with them ; not knowing at that time the name for them. I asked the Lieutenant if

16 THE GREAl AMERICAN

he had a "Bunker Hill" for me to wear on my "backc From that expression I received the name of "Bunker," and have heen more generally known by that name in the army than any other.

The next morning after our arrival in camp, we were marched over to the Surgeon's quarters for examination. From a list of names that the Lieutenant had handed him, the Surgeon called " Lorain Buggies ! "

" Here I am, Doctor," I answered, what do you want of me ? "

"I want to examine you, and see if you are sound."

"Oh, that's it, is it. You need not be to that trouble, I'm sound enough."

" Well, but I must see whether you are sound or not ; hold out your hands ; work your fingers ; touch your hands over your head."

Going through the motions, I :<3ded, "OA, / teli you that I am all rights

"Are you ruptured ? " he conti>aued.

^^Ruptured! what is that?"

"Are you bursted ? "

"No, I ain't quite busted yet; I've a couple of dollars left."

" You don't understand me, Mr. Buggies," continued the Surgeon, placing his hands on my abdomen. "Are your ^oi^f/s all righj: ?"

" Oh, I understand you now ! They are a little thin; the rations donUt relish well yetT . The doctor secceeded at last in making me understand, and having finished his examination, we were accepted as soldiers in the United States army.

Like all other lecriiits, as soon as mustered in I was placed under drill. To me the "steps" and "facings," "times" and "motions," were perfectly incomprehensible. I formed a dislike to them that I could never get over. I was expert in the forest at handling my piece, and I did not see why the same times and motions that would kill a bear would not kill a "reb."

. CHAPTER II.

lii^Tes to Cincinnati — Detailed to guard the forts — ^Meets a secesh lady — First 6C0iit — Unexpected visit of the Colonel — The drill — Bad report — The mischief investigated — ^Attempts to discover the rogues — Innocent man accused — The accusers skedaddle — Who got the chickens.

Shortly after I joined the regiment it moved to the city barracks in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the duty of the regiment at that time to guard the fortifications that had been built to protect the cities of Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport. Not long after we arrived at the barracks, company "H," to which I belonged, was detailed for a three days' tour at guarding the line of defenses. Lieutenant Downs, with a squad consisting of three sergeants and twenty-seven men, was sent to guard that part of the defenses known as the Three-mile Batteries. I was one of the squad.

These batteries formed a chain of defenses running eastward from the Licking River at a distance of two miles and a half south of the city of Newport. Beginning near the Licking River, was situated Fort Shaler ; a mile and a half east was Fort Stuart, and a mile and a half east of that was Beechwoods Battery.

The detail was divided into three squads, of a serg-eant and nine men each, for each of the threo forts. I was one of the squad that went to Fort Stuart. That fort being between the other two, was made head-quarters of the officer commanding the detail.

We crossed the Ohio River on a ferry-boat to Newport, and then marched out. When we had gone about half-way to the forts, we were met by a lady in a carriage, who as we passed, called out, " Hurrah for Jeff. Davis!" We took it as a down-right insult, but passed along without making any disturbance. W<j soon overtook a young man, who told us where the lady lived, who she was, and also that she was a secesh, and that her sentiments were well known in the neighborhood. She was a widow.

The next morning I asked Lieutenant Downs for the privilege of taking three men with me to scout the neighborhood for information concerning its disloyalty. He granted the request, on condition that we report back promptly by 2 o'clock in the afternoon. We were allowed to take our arms with us.

We visited all the neighbors living in the immediate vicinity of the lady's residence, and they all confirmed what we had heard of her disloyalty. We then went to her house, but found that she was absent. The members of her family said that she was not disloyal, but very strongly sympathized with the secession movement. Her negroes said she was secesh. We were treated courteously by the family, and urged to stay to dinner, which we did. While the dinner was being prepared, we enlivened the time by narrating our camp stories, very much to their amusement. When we were about to take ovx

20 THE GKKAT AMKRIOAN

departure, we were invited to coirie the next day and bring our Lieutenant. The invitation was pressed so hard that we promised to coine.

At the hour specified, we reported to our Lieutenant, and gave him all the information that we had gathered concerning the woman's disloyalty and the feeling that existed against her among her neighbors. It was determined, in consequence of the insult that we had received, and her known sympathy with the enemy, to lay the matter before the Colonel on our return to the regiment.

The next day was very rainy, so we did not repeat our visit as we had promised to do. About the middle of the afternoon we were very much surprised by the appearance of Colonel Force at the fort. Had he come in the night it would not have surprised us, because he had become proverbial for " making the rounds," especially in bad weather. At the time of his arrival the Lieutenant was absent, inspecting the other forts. ' The manner of the Colonel seemed strange. He was very inquisitive about our I'ations — whether they held out and whether we had had any other than Government rations ; he also inquired whether any of us had been absent from the fort at any time. I then told him of our trip the day before. He then inquired if we had any of us been there since, and we answered in the negative. He then inspected our ration-boxes, and the ground all about the fort, examining carefully the wood-pile, fence-corners, and bushes, evidently looking for somethingon the ground. After liavinfT finished his search he did not seem sa-

SCOUT AND SPY. 2i

tisfied, but acted as if he was disappointed in something. We were all sure that "something was up."

Having finished his inspection, he told me to get my gun and he would drill me in the manual while he was waiting for the return of the Lieutenant. I got along finely in all the movements until he gave the command, "Charge — bayonet."

It being the most natural for me, I brought my piece down to my left side, with a half- face to the left instead of to the right, as I ought to have done,

" Not so, not so — the other way; there — fix it so," said the Colonel, fixing it in its proper position.

" I can never charge bayonet that way."

" Hold it fast ; let me try it," said he, putting his hand against the muzzle of the piece.

" I will if I can." He pushed, and over I went to the ground. Springing up and resuming my old position of half- face to the left. " You can't do that again ; now try."

The Colonel did try, but could not budge me. He then told me to put up my gun. I had become extremely anxious to know what had brought him over, and I resolved to give him a hint to that effect ; so I said to him, "Colonel, you must like the military profession pretty wellT^

"Why so? what makes you think that?"

" Because you came all the way over here from Cincinnati y«/sif to drill me."

The Colonel smiled, but he said nothing. By this time the Lieutenant made his appearance. The Colonel took him on side and had some private conversation, and then left. We learned from the Lieutenant that complaint had heen made at the headquarters that a squad of men from the forts had been to Mrs. 's house the night before and taken possession with fixed bayonets, and demanded meat, butter, chickens, and potatoes, and threatened if the articles demanded were not given them, they would help themselves. The lady remonstrated, and finally begged of them not to disturb her property, but all to no purpose. They then helped themselves to such articles as they wanted, including about thirty chickens.

The Lieutenant seemed surprised to hear such reports about his men. He questioned us closely, as the Colonel had done, but all to no purpose ; every man denied knowing any thing about the outrage. He searched the premises for any traces of chickens, such as offal, bones, or feathers, but none could be found.