Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-12-15
LETTER FROM JOHN E.. COOK.

| CHARLEsTowN JAIL, Va, Dec. 8. 1859
70 the Editor Of the Morning Leader.
DEAR S1E.-I had the pleasure of re-
ceiving, yesterday evening, copy of your
interesting paper. In its perusal, I was
somewhat surprised to see copy of a let
| ter which I had written to Mr.. d Mrs. Sell
Ter, of your city. When l wrote that let
ter, / had no thought of its ever being
published. But, as see some false state
men:s in regard to my fellow prisoners and
myself, which you have quoted from other
papers, am glad Mr.. Sellers took the lib
erty to give itpublicity. am also thank
full to you, for the comment you made up
on those statements.
/ will only say, such statements as have
been made by the "Igmes," in regard to
my companions and myself, are totally
false. There has not been one single IN
stance, in uhich Ihave felt, or shoaon any
sign of fear or nervousness s'ace I have
been here. Neither has nay conarade Cop
poe, since he has occupied the cell vith
me, shown any such aceaknes or dread
of death. We both dislike the mode of
death, to which we have been doomed
But notwithstanding, ace are cheerfuHy
and calmly awaiting our fate, and trust
we shall meet at like men.
/ will frankly admit, that on one or two
occasions, l have been agitated, by the re-
ception of touching letters from my Wife
and other relatives sohose happin0ss as
dearer to me than my life. The doom
that awaits me, has not in the least affect
ed my appetite, nor has it occasioned any
loss of rest. l sleep as calmly here as |
would, if in my boyhood home.
have made these statements, because
l deem it mg duty to my fellow prisoner
and myself to do so. By giving this, an
insertion in your paper you will greatly OBJ
lige.
Yours Truly,
JOHN E. COOK.
P. l have Just read in one of the
papers published at this place, an account
of ilre Farewell scene between Capt. Brown,
Coppoc, and myself. To show the false
hood of these reports, 1 acM state Just aohat
passed at this tareweH interriew. Capt.
Brown came in smiling, and shook both
Coppoc and myself, warmly by the hand.
He asked kindly after our health. He
then said to me, that he was sorry that l
had made statement that was not true ;
as would gain contempt by it. asked
him what l had said that was untrue.
He told me that it was the statement
that | had made, saying: "That he
had sent me to the Ferry" told him
he most certainly did tell me to 90 there.
He said he had no recollection of any,
thing of the kind but he remembered dis,
tinctly Of telling me not to go there Ire
piled that l had good memory, and had
not the Slightest recollection Of anything
ofthe kind. He remarked that he thought
that my memory must be treacherous then
but it would do no good to talk about that.
But that if we had got to die, to meet our
fate like men. That we had gone into a
good cause, and not to deny il now. He
then turnedto to Coppoc and said that he
had heard that he had made some false
statements, but was glad to learn that
those reports were untrue. He then asked
if be could do anything for us. We an
swer in the negative. He gave Coppoc
scots remarking that, as ne owed C's Bro
ther $40, which he did not know as would
ever be paid, that little change might do
him some good. He then pressed our
hands warmly and babe us a last Farewell.
There was no one present except Capt.
Avis, Capt. Brown, Coppoc and myself
Capt. Avis will, think vouch for the
truth of this statement as will Mr.. Cop
poe. Please give this place in your pa
per and oblibe.
Yours Truly,
j. E. COOK.