Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-22
Houor 70 yybou, uouor sDue.

! EDITORS APPEAL: After several days trsve
I arrived at Tangapihoa, where it was my GOO
| fortune to meet many warm ani valued friends
among the most distinguished of the number
was my old commander in arms, Brgsdier
/ General Daniel Ruggles, now in command O
\ the first district of department No. /, commanded
/ by the gifted and patriotic Van Dorm. The ap
I pointment Of Gen. Ruggles to this importsn
| position is a subject Of general congratulstOI OF
and rejoicing among LOuisianisns, who hail his
presence in the sugar State as an omen preg
nant with good for the future.
You probably are aware that Louisiana is the
generals adopted home, and that his friends
and admirers dot every parish, town, and neigh
borhood within her borders.
The veteran hero is looking remarkably we'll,
and expresses himself ia the most confident
terms as to our final success and the entire
overthrow of the enemy. For asle generalship.
experience and genuine bravery, the general
has no superiOrs. For these and other reasons
cfeqnal cogency, propose TO furnish your nu-
m5Tous readers a sketch Of his yAsst eventlul
career as a soldier and commander.
David Ruggles was brevet 2d-lieuienant in
the 9Th infantry in 1888; assistant commisssry
Of subsistence, 1885; first-lieutensnt, 1888,
commanding his company and distinguished at
PslO Alto and La Palma; cap tain in June,
1915; vet-msjOr for gallant and me.itorious
SoAlNAlSs IL bdst4t5 VI NuuEbldo dBQ OuuLQDUo-
60, 2d August, IS47, (August lS45,) among
stOrmers and distinguished in storming FL No
limo del Reyi brevet ieutenant-colonel for gal
lant aud msrilOriou5 conduct ia the battle of
Chepultepec
1t viii readily be perceived from the above
tscts that the general is no novice in the arts
and science OF war, and that such a record
points to him as the man above all others for
the defense of the important district to which he
has been assigned In Gen. Rugges you have
combined all those requisites which constitute
the true general, brave soldier and accomplished
gentleman This is as it should be.
It was the good fortune of your eorrespon-
dent to be with the general on the bloody fisld
OF Shiloh, where ne displayed a cOolness and
determination not surpassed by any officer upon
the field. 1t was on this hard fought battlefield
he again covered himself with imperishable
laurels, and endeared himself still stronger to
the loyal sovereigns Of Louisiana and the entire
South.
At the most trying and critical period of the
battle on Sunday, the general discovering the
exposed position Of Prentiss' flank, ordered up
the batteries Of TrabUe, Stanford and Bsnkhead
amounting in all to some fifteen guns with this
timely and well ordered f1rcs, he dealt out death
and destruction to the combined forces of Prem
tiss IN manner so terrific as to spread conster-
nation and panic throughout his entire ranks
which resulted in his overthrow and capture to.
gether with 1900 Of his we'll disciplined and
brave troops.
InPsssing by several scenes Of historic inter-
est, simply desire 10 call the attention of your
readers, to one of the most heroic scfs Of the
day. On Monday evening while the enemy was
being held in check, for the purpose of cover.
ing well ordered retreat, on the left Of Shiloh
church. The general ordered uo fragment Of
a regiment picked up by Col. Charles Jones of
Louisiana, (together with another command un-
known to The writer,) which had been posted
under cover ct the bill on the lefJ Of the church.
and quickly galloping down the line took from
the flag bearer, the battle flag and advanced,
calling upon the men to follow him, vii h order
was promptly obeyed
In leading this desperate attack, the general
was teaTtully exposed to two deadly fires Just
Here he was twice admonished by Col Jones to
fall back into the line of battle, or be would
most certainly be killed from the rear To this
feeling admotion the old hero paid no attention,
but pressed forward, Haunting the flag grace
fully and defantly in the face of the enemy.
Inc command, on ascending the hill, was re-
celyed by the enemy in full force, under a most
deadly fire.
The general being conspicuous mark for the
sbarpshooters, his escape from death was indeed
miracle. In brief period this small force
fell back from this, the last stand point, OF this
part Of the battle field, in good order
Gen. Rugges then took charge Of tie rear
guard, severely contending every inch of ground
as we retired. The conduct of the general was
from the beginning to the end that of the SOL
der, in the truest sense of the term, and will be
gratefully remembered for all time to come. 1t
is not necessary that should allude at length
to his noble deeds at the battle of Pennington,
where he fell upon Pope and dispersed his forces
like chat before the wind, covering our flag with
glory and ren0wn.
With such men in command our people have
nothing to lose, but all to gain and to me, it is
a subject Of profound congraiulatiOn that Louis
lana, though long neglected, has not been entire
ly lost sight of in the tremendous struggle now
going on. The blood of her nobls sons has
been poured out like water on the soil of other
States while her immediate interests have been
neglected.
The appointment of Gen Ruggles, ct this
particular period, is, however, the dawn of
brighter day, and the people are resolved to
rally around his standard, and stand by him
until the last invading Yankee Is driven from
our sacred soil
A OT-TSTANa VoT UrN-,rrrD