Mortimer Bainbridge Ruggles

[Laurie Verge]

A name like that could only be topped by a cousin being named Absalom Ruggles Bainbridge!

The following story of locating and marking the Ruggles grave appeared several months ago in the Surratt Courier. The gentleman responsible for the search and tombstone is a Life Member of the Surratt Society - Mr. Seymour Osborne.

If you have not seen the story, go here for a SCV newsletter piece on it:

http://nycscv.org/confederate-grave-disc...ong-island

Mr. Osborne was also instrumental in locating and marking the grave of Absalom Ruggles Bainbridge. He laughs that he is a Yankee marking TWO Confederate graves. All must be forgotten after all.

[LincolnMan]

Laurie: thanks for posting that bit of news. I had read it previously but had forgotten where. I wish it would have also mentioned that he was born at Fort Wilkins, Michigan-another Michigan connection.

[Jim Garrett]

Mortimer Bainbridge Ruggles was the son of Confederate Daniel Ruggles. He received an appointment to Annapolis, but did not find the possibility of a naval career to his liking. Ruggles and Bainbridge both left ole Virginia shortly after their release from old Capitol, both moving to New York, and spending the rest of their lives in the Empire State. General Ruggles plantation, Friedlander, was on the market a couple of years ago.

[Craig Hipkins]

An interesting post here. Lt. Mortimer Bainbridge Ruggles was actually half-yankee! His father Daniel Ruggles was from Barre Massachusetts (where I went to high school)
Daniel Ruggles married a southern lady, and took up the cause of the Confederacy. He was one of only a few Confederate Generals who was born in the north. Another one of note was General John C. Pemberton who surrendered Vicksburg to Grant. He was from Pennsylvania.
The Ruggles were a prominent family in Barre. The elementary school there is called Ruggles Lane, has been for as long as I remember. A cousin of Daniel Ruggles married my G-G-G Grandparents in Barre back in 1852!
Just a little tidbit

Craig

[LincolnMan]

Does anyone know if Ruggles had any further role in the assassination story after the death of Booth?

[Rick Smith]

Does anyone know if Ruggles had any further role in the assassination story after the death of Booth?

Ruggles was responsible for some of the confusion regarding the "disposal" of Booth's bay mare & Herold's roan gelding. He gave an interview to Prentiss Ingraham in which he told how the horses were led into the river behind Jones' boat and when in deeper water, had their throats cut, after which their carcasses sunk. This is highly unlikely, as the horses bodies would have bloated and drifted. There are other reasons to disbelieve this story, but too lengthy for now. It was also Ruggles who described Booth's injured leg in some detail and told of Booth constantly pulling his mustache into shape during the ferry crossing to Port Royal. I think Ruggles was filling Ingraham with as much bunkum as the market would bear.

Rick

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Rick. Ruggles wasn't even in the picture as yet when the horse were disposed of, correct?

[Gene C]

I thought Booth shaved off his mustache at Mudd's

[Rick Smith]

Thanks Rick. Ruggles wasn't even in the picture as yet when the horse were disposed of, correct?

Bill,

That is right. Those horses did not leave Md. and Ruggles appears at Port Conway later on. As to the disposal of the horses, I wrote a couple of articles for the Courier some time ago which deals with the horses and their "disposal." Happy to share if you would like to see them.

Rick

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I thought Booth shaved off his mustache at Mudd's

Gene,

I believe that is the accepted story.

If Booth did shave at Mudd's, then this lends some credence to Ruggles just filling Ingraham's bucket.

His description of Booth's leg is very detailed and interesting.

He said that with his experience of battle wounds that it would have neccessitated removing Booth's leg to save his life. Ruggles describes Booth's leg as being swollen & blackened.

If this is so, it sure makes it seem that Dr. Mudd's diagnosis was way off.

Rick

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I thought Booth shaved off his mustache at Mudd's

Gene,

I believe that is the accepted story.

If Booth did shave at Mudd's, then this lends some credence to Ruggles just filling Ingraham's bucket.

His description of Booth's leg is very detailed and interesting.

He said that with his experience of battle wounds that it would have neccessitated removing Booth's leg to save his life. Ruggles describes Booth's leg as being swollen & blackened.

If this is so, it sure makes it seem that Dr. Mudd's diagnosis was way off.

Rick

[LincolnMan]

Rick: Of course. I'm sure we would all love to see them!

[Rick Smith]

Rick: Of course. I'm sure we would all love to see them!

Bill,

Maybe with Roger's help, I could post them on this site.

I will ask for his views.

Rick

[RJNorton]

Rick,

If you need any help just give a holler.

Roger

[RJNorton]

Rick sent me the articles in the Surratt Courier.

For one, click here.

For the other one, click here.

If you have a dial-up connection it will take a long time to view the articles.