Four Years a Scout and Spy / "General Bunker", One of Lieut. General Grant's Most Daring and Successful Scouts, Being a Narrative of ... the Experience of Corporal Ruggles During Four Years' Service as a Scout and Spy for the Federal Army

by E. C. Downs

"Frank P. Blair, Major-General."

At Department of Army of the Tennessee, it was indorsed as follows:

"Head-quarters Dep't. Army Tenn.,
"August 15, 1864.

"Respectfully forwarded.

"O. O. Howard,
"Major-General.

The reader will bear in mind that I was a stranger to both Generals Blair and Howard. I then carried it to General Sherman, who disapproved it, as follows:

"Head-quarters Military Division Mississippi,
"In the Field, near Atlanta, Aug. 15, 1864.

"Respectfully returned. There is no general law for such organization as the within. General officers, when they have secret service funds, can employ men for such secret service.

"States have had authority for raising independent companies of any kind that might be converted.

"By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.