Four Years

s is necessary to explain the cause of the events that transpired in his experience. Many of these are incidents of daring that are without parallel in the scout service. The following testimonials of the value of his services and the truthfulness of his reports will be read with interest:

"HEAD-QUARTERS 1ST BRIGADE, 3D DIVISION, } "17TH ARMY CORPS, December, 11, 1863. }

"Captain E. C. Downs, 20th Ohio:

"CAPTAIN--I have known Mr. Ruggles since December, 1861, when your company was first mustered. I remember very well his first expedition as a spy, in June, 1862, when the 20th was at Grand Junction, then an exposed outpost, under command of General Leggett.

"Since that time he has been continually employed on such duty, often on expeditions of extreme hazard. He has shown as much address as daring. Many a camp-fire has been enlivened with stories of his adventures while commanding officers have set high value upon his reports.

"I remember Mr. Ruggles as one of our be