Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-08-28
THE MURDER OF GENERAL McooK.
OFFICIAL REPORT AND ORDERS.
EFFECT UPON THE ARMY.

, ton to this style Of warfare. have Tor
: feited every clsim 70 the rights ant
, usages of civilized war, snd should b
treated only as a band Of eus-thrOats.
On the night Of the 10th one of thu
, most noted guerrillas in all this region
named Bob. Curtsr. was shot by par
ty sent out for that purpose by the Cd
Minnesota.
These guerriiias have been guilty o
the most unheard Of atrocities, extend
ing even to the shooting Of young Ia
dies, whose fathers have expressed
opinions favorable to the Union. They
hang upon the rear Of our columns on
the march, and catch and murder such
stragglers as they can pick up.
lhe employment of the slaves Of reb-
els has begun in this department. and
they are fast being gathered up here to
build stocksdes and dig intrenchments.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL. vASDERvKER.
HEApes. 81 BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE
ONO, CAMP NEAR DEcHARD,
TENN, Aug. 9. 1862.
Maj. George E. Hynt, Il. Il. g., Chief
of Stgf: u
Sir: It becomes my melancholy dutv
to report that, while portion of the Sd
brigade. composing the 9th Ohio Vols,
the ed Minnesota Vols, and the 35th
Ohio Vols, under. the command Of
Brigadier- General Robert L. McCook,
were on their march from Athens, Ala
bama, to this point, at point near the
southern line Of Tennessee, Gen. Nc
Cook, who was sick. and riding in an
open carriage upon his bed. about three
miles in advance Of the troops, ac-
companied by Capt. Hunter Brooke OF
his staff, and Major Boynton of the
Thirty-ffth Ohio. together with nine
members Of his escort, was suddenly at
tackled by a band Of mounted guerrillas,
numbering between one and two hun
dred men, about noon on the 4th inst.
Major Boynton, with one ofthe escort,
and citizen as guide, mounted upon
the horse of another, had been sent a
half mile to the rear and three members
of the escort, including the Sergeant, a
like distance to the front, in search OF
suitable camping grounds for the brig
ade. thus leaving but four Of the escort
with General McCook-one Of whom
was dismounted, and Capt. Brooke,
who was unarmed and in the carriage
attending upon the General when the
attack began.
The General succeeded in turning
his carriage, but not until the gurerillas
were within range, and firing. He was
soon overtaken and surrounded, al
though his horses were running at the
top of their speed. In reply to the oft
repeated cry Of "stopl stop!" the Gen
eral arose in his bed and exclaimed,
'don't shoot, the horses are unmanage-
able; we will stop as soon as possible. "
notwithstanding this surrender, those
riding within few feet, by the side OF
the carriage, fired, one ball passing
through his hat, and one inficting a
mortal wound in the abdomen, which
produced death about twenty-four
hours after, at noon of August 9th.
The alarm having reached the col
umn, it was hurried up at double quick.
and almost Immediately encountered
the advance of the band; buta few shots
from the head Of the Thirty-6fth scat
tered them instantly.
General Nc Cook was found in house
near where he was shot. whittier he had
been carried by Capt. Brooke and the
driver of the carriage.
OF those in advance. Capt. Brooke,
two members of the escort, and two
teamsters OF The Ninth Ohio, were cap
iured, and one member Of the Ninth
! Ohio Band was wounded by a sabre
cut on the bead. General McCook's
wagons we're 6red. butnot greatly dam.
age1. The three horses attached tc
this team, and the mules Of one other
brigade team were tsken.
The condition Of Gen. MeCook could
not but have been known to the attack.
ing party. as he was on his bed divested
of all outer clothing. except hat used
as shade, and the curtains of the car.
risge being raised on all sides.
There are good reasons for supposing
that the attack was planned solely fol
Gen. McCook's capture or murder. In
furiated by this cowardly assassination,
many of the soldiers of the brigade
/, spred themselves over the country be-
fore any measures could be taken tc
, check them, and burned nearly all the
u property of rebels in the vicinity, and
shot a rebel lieutenant who was on fur
, Tough and supposed to be connected
with the gang.
I have the honor to be very respect
fully your obedient servant,
F. VANDERVEER,
Col. 35th o. v, Comd'g. Sd Brigade
ExcIrRMEsT IN THE SANDY VALLEY
) On Wednesday evening Quartermastel
; Kissinger. with squad Of cavalry, ar
|, rfva1 &C.. ~-I ~Ao~faI Al OF