Indiana and Indianans, Vol. 5 A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Indiana and Indianans, Vol. 5: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana and the Century of Statehood
Col. Nicholas Randle Ruckle, who died May 4, 1900, was widely known and beloved in his home city of Indianapolis and throughout the state. He had an unusual career, was a distinguished soldier and officer of the Union Army during the Civil war, filled many positions with credit and efficiency in public affairs, and his name is intimately identified with the newspaper history of Indianapolis. He was born at Baltimore, Maryland, May 8, 1838. His grandfather came to the United States from Ireland, and spent the rest of his life in Maryland. Nicholas Ruckle, father of Colonel Ruckle, was bom in Maryland, was a tailor by trade, and an early settler in Indianapolis, where for many years he conducted a tailoring establishment. He finally retired and several years before his death removed to Brookfield, Indiana, where he died at the age of sixty-five, his wife surviving him for several years. Both were active members of the Methodist Church. Their four children were: Col. Nicholas R.; John P., who was killed at the battle of Shiloh, while a member of the Eleventh Indiana Regiment; Eliza, wife of Josiah Qwin, of New Albany, Indiana; and Kate C.
Nicholas R. Ruckle was nine years old when his parents came to Indianapolis in 1847. In July, 1852, he removed to Indianapolis, and he finished his education in a private school conducted by Rev. Charles S. Greene. In May, 1853, at the age of fifteen, he entered the composing room of the old Indianapolis Journal as an apprentice. He worked diligently at the case, and acquired a good knowledge of the printing trade and also some skill in general newspaper work. He also became interested in local affairs, and was a member of the old volunteer fire department and of an independent militia company at the time of the Civil war.
His militia company was the first permanent organization to enter Camp Morton. Colonel Ruckle became a member of the famous Indiana Zouaves, known as the Eleventh Regiment of Infantry, commanded by Col. Lew Wallace. With his command he saw his first real service in the West Virginia campaign, and he finally re-enlisted for three years. Colonel Ruckles military record covered the entire period of the Civil war, from April, 1861, to October, 1865. His performance of duty and his fidelity brought him one promotion after another, and he rose from the ranks to sergeant, orderly sergeant, lieutenant and captain, and finally for bravery was made colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Infantry. He was present at the siege of Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, was with General Curtis and the Trans-Mississippi Army in the Arkansas campaign of 1862, was present in the Vicksburg campaign, was with General Sherman when the latter made his attack on Gen. Joseph Johnston at Jackson, participated in the ill-fated Banks campaign up the Red river in 1863, and in many other operations through Louisiana. He and his comrades were then transferred to the eastern theater of the war, and he was in Sheridans campaign through the Shenandoah Valley of 1864, fighting at Winchester and Cedar Creek, at Halltown, at Fishers Hill, and in other battles and engagements. For a time he was in the Department of the Cumberland as commander of the second subdistrict of Middle Tennessee. The war over. Captain Ruckle returned to Indianapolis and gained many distinctions in civil life. He served as sheriff of Marion County for two terms from 1870 to 1874.
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