John D. Rugley, A Texas Ranger

Confederate Veteran
Volume 6, Number 6, Page 275
June 1898

Sandy Elkins, Woodbury, Tenn.: "In the year 1864 I was living with my aged father within four miles of Woodbury on the old stage road between there and McMinnville. One day Forrest's Cavalry came up the road, and were surrounded by Federals on all sides. A short but desperate battle was fought, and Forrest's men were at last obliged to retreat. A Texas Ranger was brought into our house with his leg shot off by a cannon ball. The surgeon dressed his wound as quickly as possible, and then left him. One by one, his comrades rode up to the door and bade him farewell, saving: 'Good by, D.' His name was John D. Rugley [John D. Rugeley]. He died in a few hours, and was buried in one of the grand old hills of Cannon County. He was never conscious of anything after being shot. That brave Ranger's grave is marked by a tall rock that I put over him, and bears the inscription: 'John D. Rugley, a Texas Ranger." I was only fifteen years old at this time."