Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-11-14


dollars per day for myself and serVan
During our stay, spence came in f
his share of notoriety. he was r.
} markably attentive to my wants an
scrupulously exact in all his arTang
menis of my toilet. His own clothin
was richer than that of any bod
servant at the hotel, and he kept
perfectly clean His superior DIRE:
helped him wonderfully in carryiD
out the character he had assumed. ]
was really amusing to observe his loft
and dignified bearing among those c
his own color.
After having seen what l could t
advantage in Jackson, l went to Genel
al johnson and showed him my pas
from General Price. and told him tina
| wanted him, if agreeable to his goot
will and pleasure, to give me a permi
to visit Vicksburg and return. l tolC
him that had some friends in there
and, as we did not always know wha
might be the fortunes of war, 1 wa
extremely anxious to see them. H
made no hesitation about it, but i'm
mediately ordered the required pas
for a period of ten days, subject to thu
approval of the Provostmarshal IL
Vicksburg, whenever / wished to re
turn.
took the cars the same day, anC
went into VicHsburg, where l remain
ed two days. found force of ter
regiments of infantry there, and, as
neai as L could judge, 1000 heavy ar
tillery. From what / could learn,
there was at Hainses' Bluff about II, ,00C
troops. The batteries along the river
were very formidable, and seemed to
me sufficient, if well served. to annihi-
late any water craft that might under
take to pass.
At the expiration of two days, went
to the Provost marshal and got my pass
approved, and returned as far as Ed
wards Station, where / had the good
fortune to find my old friends, whose
names l have mentioned. They were
very much delighted to see me. Sam.
Teel still carried his old favorite rifle,
which he called "0ld Bill" Many a
bear had seen succumb to its uner-
ring aim. The next day after my ar
rival, Sam. Teel procured pass for
himself and three others mentioning
our names) to visit Black River and
fish. We went directly to the bridge,
and then rambled up and down the
stream as much as We pleased. Teel
showed me how they had bleckaded
the river below the bridge by sinking
two small lsteamboats, one little above
the other, to keep our gun-boats from
coming up to the bridge. The bridge
and its approaches was guarded by
force of 1000 men. 1t was nearly night
when we returned to camp. AT Ed
wards Station, 1 found force of 40, 900
men. remained there FIVE days, and
then returned to Jackson on foot.
At Clinton, a smart little place, ten
miles west of Jackson, ! saw one regi-
ment of infantry. At jackson there
was but one regiment of infantry that
was the 18th Mississippi Zouaves, called
the pride of the Confederacy," and
armed with Colts revolving rifles. l
was informed IN jackson that the ar
mory at Columbus, Miss, had been re-
moved into the State of Alabama.
Having found out all that had been
required of me in my instructions,
thought it was best to return. Accor-
lingly, l again visited General John
,ton, and requested pass to Grenada,
which was granted.
On arriving at General Prices head
quarters, l found that during my alb
1ence my horse had been stolen. l
made no complaints about it, but con-
.inued my journey with my mule and
servant. Just before night. on the
irst day out from Grenada, l passed
table that contained very good look
ng horse. l proceeded on about two
niles, and halted until after dark,
vhen, leaving my servant and mule
Until my return, l went back and took
possession of the horse.
We then rode all night, and the next
ay until nearly night, without halting, |
or fear that the owner of the horse would |
et track of US and follow on after. We
ucceeded, however, in making our way |
o the Federal lines without difficulty.
On our arrival at Memphis, being una
lie to procure transportation down the
liver for my horse and mule. 1 turned the
ormer over to the post Quartermaster, |
nd left the latter at my old boarding place /
n Adams street 1t was the same mule
hat had been given to me by General /
Ross, and taken from me by outlaws.
hen took a steamboat passage to Lake
La, where l foInd General
lcPherson.
Having heard my report, the General
expressed doubt about the two steam
oats that 1 have spoken of being sunk in
,lack River, below the bridge. In order
D test my reliability, he questioned me
bout what kind of man General Whee-
sr was, his stature, weight, complexion,
tc., and let on that he was very large |
nan. l told him that be was mistaken,
T else the General Wheeler that he knew
nd the one that knew were two differ
mt persons. He then told me that he and
ieneral Wheeler both attended the Mill
lry School at West Point at the same
me, and that he knew him we'll, and |
nat 1 described him exactly. after
ards had an opportunity of proving to
i'm that was correct about the sunken |
eamboats, by taking him in person TO the
lace and showing him the remains of
lem.
After 1 had finished my report to Gen
raj Mcpherson. he sent me to General |
rant, who was then at Milliken's Bend,
a. 1 reported to him all the particulars
f nv trip, even to the conversation that
had held with Hall, the cotton buyer,
nd Sol. Street the gIerailla. 1 also ask
the General if there would be any
arm in such outside transactions. 1 told
i'm that was allowed to do it, I could
ay nv own expenses in the secret service
nd thereby save that expense to the Gov
rnment.
Said he, "Ruggles, don't you have any
usiness transactions with outlaws; if you
o. shall certainly disgrace you. DO q
honest business for the
iovernment, and then, lfyou should ever
eed any assistance, come to me about it,
nd l will see that you have all the help
rat you need. A good name, well earn
/, is worth more to you than all you can
AXE by unlawful traffic"
l think the Generals advice was excel
mt. At all events, 1 have followed it,
nd saved myself the disgrace that has
allen upon many, far my superiors in
ank. 1 have never seen the cotton-buyer
or the guerrilla since.
The death of Senator William Wright
f New Jersey, still further decreases
le strength of the johnson party of
lat body. Before lis death the Union
arty in the present Senate numbered
iirty-seven, including the West Vir-
;n;a Sanotors and the Johnsonites.