The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-07-27
WAR SECRET GIVEN UP.
Location of Union Spy's Grave
Learned by Accident.
HIS FAMILY SEARCHED IN VAIN

to Find Tomb Of "RanISin, the Union
Spy."
The discovery of the whereabouts of
an unmarked grave in the sunny south,
where lie the remains of spy, the
revelation of secret of almost half a
century which an indianapolis family
would for years have given much to
know, and this the result of a casual
conversation Of but the other day, are
features of a story which can be told
by l.. Cecil, an aged resident of Column
bia, Tenn, lying i'll at the Deaconess
hospital in indianapolis.
The story, one of the strangest of the
fast diminishing "reminiscences of the
days OF the civil war, has resulted in
james A. Curtis Of Putnamville, Ind,
lnstituting search for John Rankin,
an old indianapolis printer, or at least
for some member of his family, says
the Indianapolis Star. Curtis wants to
tell Rankin where the grave OF his
brother, Rankin, the Union spy" lies
in meadow on the old farm Of Gen
eral Pillow in Tennessee.
When Curtis recently visited the
Deaconess hospital, Mr.. Cecil told him
the story of the death Of Rankin, the
Union spy. He has also found that
John Rankin, believed to be the only
surviving member of the Rankin fam
lily, Is now in Washington, where he is
employed in the government printing
Office as a proofreader.
Do
Putnam county and Greencastle, and
| 1t was from here in the historic days
that Rankin, the spy, entered the serv-
Ice Of the Union government His serv-
Ice to the Union cause was such as to
bring him many dangerous missions
into the camp of the enemy, and it
was on one of these excursions just
| prior to the battle of Chickamauga
that he met death. That he did die
the death Of a spy or that he was
killed, indeed, was not known by mem
bers of his family Until recently 1t
was believed that his fate was a Sc
cret known to none.
AS the years rolled by and accumu-
lated following the war members of
the Rankin family, of whom there
were four aside from the parents,
made every effort to ascertain what
had become of the brother and oldest
son. The parents died shortly after the
war. never knowing Of the fate Of their
Oldest child. John Rankin, Orville Ran
| kin, James Rankin and Miss Agnes
Rankin came to Indianapolis. Here
they interested government officials in
an effort to learn something Of the
elder Rankin's end. Senator Voorhees,
/ Of Indiana became interested in the
search and carried it to the govern
ment, where the archives of the war
department were overhauled 1t was
found the spy had borne invaluable
dispatches into the enemies lines, but
after he crossed all record ceased.
Curtis is making visit to relatives
In Indianapolis, and a few days ago
while walking along Washington street
he met a man whose face was strange
ly familiar. Each looked closely at the
other. Then they grasped hands.
'Curtisw exclaimed one.
"Cecllr' said the other.
The meeting was a link in the chain
fate was forging. The two men had
not met for twenty-five years. Cecil
was himself a resident of Putnam
county during war days, but before the
end went south. He admits of Confed-
crate sympathies then.
But a few days ago when he grasp
ed hands with Curtis they spoke of old
days and then of other things. Cecil
said that he was going to the Deacon
ess hospital. He is under the care of
an oculist, his left eye being affected
and an operation necessary. 1t was at
the hospital that Curtis visited Cecil.
'Those were good old days-good old
days." remarked Curtis when the con-
versation had turned to reminiscent
grooves. when the Lewises and the
Rankin boys were young-by the way,
Lew, no one ever knew what became
OF Rankin, the Union spy"
Cecil turned his unbandaged eye to
look refiectively at Curtis.
Rankin" he said, II was there
when he was killed"
Curtis was speeches. for a moment
Then he said, What"
The story as Cecil tells 1t carries one
| Dack 10 the dark days or the war In
Kentucky and Tennessee. 1t was just
prior to the battle of Chickamauga.
Then. he says, he was within the Con-
federate lines himself with friends.
He was attracted with soldiers by the
capture of a man, Cecil states to a
farmhouse near the home of General
Pillow, the Confederate commander.
Cecil himself took no part In the at
fair, he states, but on reaching the
farmhouse he looked on the bed where
the alleged spy lay, and he states he
recognized him as Rankin. He heard
the order given. he declares. that the
spy be shot and he saw Rankin. who
was either sick or was pretending H.
ness, carried away.
he was taken to the meadow on the
Pillow farm, Cecil says, and the fol-