The State of Ohio

Muskingum County

Before me on the

18th day of April AD 1865 personally appeared William H. Ruckle, of lawful age, resident of said County, who being by me duly sworn as hereinafter certified, on his said oath says, that he was a member of Co. D 16th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that he was mustered into said Regiment of said Company upon its organization, as 1st Sergeant, remained therein until the expiration of its term of service, and was at said period mustered out as a 1st Lieutenant of Company I in said Regiment.

He also swears that the ordinance and ordinance stores mentioned in Voucher No 2, 2nd quarter of 1862, by Milton Mills Captain of said Company, were lost June the 8th 1862, at Camp Moss House near the Cumberland River in the State of Kentucky, because the Quarter Master had not the means of transportation and refused to transport the same that to his certain knowledge (affiant at the same time being orderly of said Company and present with it) the same were lost not by reason of any neglect upon the part of said Captain Mills but through, and by the above circumstance entirely beyond his control, that he has examined said voucher no 2, and says the articles therein enumerated are correct.

That he has also examined Voucher No 1, 3rd Quarter 1862, and swears that the articles (Ordinance and Ordinance Stores) therein enumerate, were destroyed at Cumberland Gap by order of Gen Geo. W. Morgan, September 17, 1862, he does not know whether the said order was verbal or otherwise, from the fact that the Brigade to which said Company was attached left said Post on the 8th day of September whereas the Army did not leave until the 17th day of said month, the said Brigade then having arrived at Manchester Kentucky some sixty miles therefrom, that the said twelve French Rifles and accoutrements belonged to sick men in said Company who were unable to carry the same, that there were no means of transportation and were consequently left, that they were so left and that said Brigade so took up its line of march by order, he states that his knowledge of the issue of such order by the said Gen. Morgan, is derived from the fact that he heard general and other officers speak of it well as the soldiers who saw the said destruction when they came up to the Camp of said Brigade, the reason why a board of survey was not called for was the fact that the retreat was "rather hasty, and the after campaign a very active one time for such purpose never being afforded.

That he has examined Voucher No 2, 4th Quarter 1862, that the Stores therein mentioned were lost upon the field at Chickasaw Bluffs Mississippi, the latter part of December 1862. There being a three day fight at said place, that four of said Rifles and accoutrements were last in the hands of members of said Company who were then and there captured by the enemy, that the balance were lost by men who were wounded in action (and left ???? in the field). That the said Milton Mills then Captain commanding said Company was also taken prisoner and did not return to said Regiment until his exchange when he was mustered as Major June 5, 1863, that he did not nor could not know ????? of the loss in Ordinance and Ordinance Stores then and there occurring.

That as to the Articles and Stores mentioned in Voucher No 3, 4th Quarter 1862 which he has also examined he swears that the same were carried away or lost by the following named persons who deserted from said Company at Cincinnati Ohio after the said Regiment reached said City after the evacuation of Cumberland Gap to-wit

As shown by the Rolls of said Company, that said Stores, in said Voucher named were never returned to said Company in whole or in part while the said Mills was in command of said Company that affiant was still the 1st or orderly Sergeant of said Company at the time of said desertions and is fully cognizant of the facts whereof he swears.

W. H. Ruckle

Affidavit of

W. H. Ruckle

late Lieutenant

16th Regt. O.V.Inf.

Sworn to before me and subscribed in

my presence April 18, 1865

John H. Ash

Notary Public