The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-08-15
Murder of Col. McCook,

cowari'y murder of Ctl. M'Cook, is from
the Cincinnati q aette:
A private letter from Decherd. Tennessee.
furdisne> some particulars OF Gen. McCuoks
assassination which not entirely new, are
well worth recapituia'ion. The Genera
hsd heen suffering dyseni-ry. bnt when
his brigade Received orders Ia marh he re.
solved 10 &C company II. though urged to 90
by rail. Accordingly bed WAS placed in
light two horse carriage, in which he was
travelling At tie time Of his murder. He
marched each dav at the head Of his brig ,de
with his attendants, and in all cases helped
10 select the camp for the night In his
usual manner, he was quite n distance in
advance Of C mmnnd, on the day he was at.
lacked. makirg inquiries in regard TO dis
tances, springs. creeks. &c. From the point
where he stopped, he sent in advance three
OF the nine persons forming his esc,rt, 10
examine the road. Two Others, one of
whom was Major Boyn'cp, Of this city. were
sent back 10 the creek half mile ~ The
rear. Just as the latter had reached their
des'ins'ien af'er rsnid ride, the assault
wns made on the orieriies in advance Me.
Cook had hardly time 70 iurn his carriage
before the surff'ffas wrfe In range. OF the
five members OF The Generals escort, who
remained with him, rpe had no horse, q
numbered between one and two hundred.
Seeing that his few friends could do him no
good. the n,ble hero ordered them o ride on
and save themselves. Afterwarh, on coming
to q narrow mart Of the rnad, partly blocked
hy his Baggage wagon. he shonted to
them IN come back, thinking " possible to
make stand there, tut thev were out of
hrarlng. He then sent an oiaerly TO the
TWO men who had gone back to the creek,
IN tell them TO hurry up the reg ment dnub.
lie quick, as there were gurrIillas ahead -
The regiment was full three miles back.
and before intimation Of the danger copld
reacn II, the assassi nation had been c.
snma'rd. The rebels. after killing General
McConk. rode IN rapidly. attempting 10 AXE
all who might he in advance. appearing in
IRON: of the SSH Ohio. Just as the General s
| messengers had srprised the latter of the
tdaneer. The gueruilas did not venture an
attack on the column, but kept their dis
tanre. On resching the spot " here Genera,
| MrCOok had been len, il was found that
he had been. surrounded while his horses
were running away. In reply 10 their cries
Of "stop," "stop," he shouted 10 them not
TO shoot. as his driver WAS tryinr TO check
the team. The rebels nearest him, disre.
Esrdine this appeal, shot him ss be lay IN
his bid partly raised, 6rirg repeatedly -
Capt. Hunter Brooke. who was with the
General in the carriage, wss captured II min .
jnred. The captain then, with the assist.
ance of servant, carried the General 10 a
honse near by. 5d, the women would not
allow h m IN b. taken in, actually ciappi ns
their hands and cnr,ing him After the reb.
els began tn retreat. they permitted him 10
b- brought IN. rhs women all along The
road. thinking by the reirea, Of the s,rag
el-is that the whole Yankee force was
routed, showed their true character very
plainly. aud did the men also. The work
Of "setilement' thus became easv. The
c,tisrns knew ofthe ban I'd, and had actuslly
gathered from q distance to see the fight
II was a out ten n olock on the morning of
the 4th that ths Gen, was shot. and he ling
cred in great pam unth one in the after.
noon, Tue sight ~ his sun rings, and tho
6sndish si.s of the usi,ors. frariu,iy -x.
cited the troops of his command. the 9'h
sni IS h OHIO snd ~ Mlnnesots. Before
tho slvance had marched a thousand yards,
q d"srn honses were in flames. and before
the brigade left the = camp in the immedi
ATE vicinity, almost every house within q
circnt Of I've miles was burned. The Of
fcers could not restrain the men. The GU
errillaS were principly ci'izeno. led by Q
few discharged rebel officers.