Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-07-26
WAR SECRET GIVEN UP
Location Of Union Spy's Grave
Learned by Accident.
HIS FAMILY SEARCHED IN VAIN

The discovery OF the whereabouts OF
IN unmarked grave In the sunny south,
where lie the remains OF a spy, the
revelation OF a secret OF almost half "A
century which an Indianapolis family
would for years have given much to
know, and this the result OF casual
conversation OF but the other day, are
features OF story which can be told
by l.. Cecil, an aged resident Of Column
lila, Tenn. lying i'll at the Deaconess
hospital in indianapolis.
The story, one Ot the strangcst NJ the
fast diminishing "reminiscences Of the
days of the civil war, has resulted In
James A. Curtis OF Putnamville, Ind,
instituting search for John Rankin,
an Old indianapolis printer, or At least
Tor some member OF his family, says
the Indianapolis Star. Curtis wants 10
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 10 he the only
surviving member OF the Rankin fam
lily is now In Washington, where he is
employed in the government printing
Cliice as proofreuder.
The Raukius originally came from
| ri
II was from here in the historic days
that Rankin, the spy entered the sery-
Ice Of the Union government His sery-
ice 10 the Union cause was such as TO
bring hun many dangerous missions
iuto the camp OF the enemy, and II
was On one Of these excursions just
prior " the battle Of Chickalnauga
that he met death That he did die
the death OF spy or that lac was
killed, indeed. was not known by mem
beers 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. Orvillc Ran
kin. James Rankin and Miss Agnes
Rankin came TO indianapolis. Here
they Interested government officials i'll
an effort to learn something Of the
elder Rankin's eud. Senator Voorhees,
Of Indiana became interested in the
search and carried it to the govern
ment, where the archives OF the war
department We're overhauled. 1t was
found the spy had borne invaluable
dispatches into the enemies lines, but
after he crossed all record ceased.
Curtis Is making Il visit TO relatives
In Indianapolis, and a few days ago
while walking along Washington street
~ familiar Each looked closely at the
other. Then they grasped hands.
Curtis exclaimed one.
Cecil said the other
The meeting was link in the chain
fate was forging. The two men had
not met for twenty-five years. Cecil
was himself resident of Putnam
/ county during war days, but before the
/ end went south. He admits of Confed-
, crate sympathies then.
But few days ago when he grasp
; ed hands with Curtis they spoke Of old
, days and then Of other things. Cecil
t 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 al
, the hospital that Curtis visited Cecil
: Those We're good old days-good old
: days" remarked Curtis when the con
.. versation had turned to reminiscent
grooves When the Lewises and the
r Rankin boys were young-by the way
) Lew, no one ever knew what became
of Rankin, the Union spy"
Cecil turned his unbandaged eye tc
look refectively at Curtis.
= Rankin" he said, Il was there
when he was killed.
: Curtis was speeches. for moment
Then he said "Whatr'
The story as Cecil tells ii carries one
: back to the dark days of the war In
: Kentucky and Tennessee. 1t was just
prior to the battle of Chickamauga
) Then, he says, lie was within the Con
= federate lines himself with friends
He was attracted with soldiers by the
i. capture Of man, Cecil states to q
} farmhouse near the home of General
Pillow, the Confederate commander
Cecil himself took no part in the af
fair, he states, but on reaching the
4 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 i'll
ness carried away.
He was taken to the meadow on the
Pillow farm, Cecil says, and the fol
: lowing morning General Pillow was
a heard to remark that he'd found tn,
body of dead man in his meadow
Further than this Cecil says it was
, generally understood the body wa.
a buried near where it lay by servant.
at the Pillow home. The battle whicl
followed in few days erased the i'm
, preston the incident" had made.
A letter conveying to John Rankin a
, Washington the first news of his broth
er's death after almost fifty years ba,
, probably left indianapolis.
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