Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-11


Harris, Captains Fuchshulter, stangel, and
Capt Thanson, Of the 9Th Ohio, dashed
forward in pursuit Of the retreating rebel
cavalry.
Gen. MoCoOk was then lying on the pi-
azza, at Petty's farm, four miles from New
Market and a half mile from the Tennes-
see State line. They inquired at the farm
house for information Of McCook, but the
people would or could not give informa-
ton, fearing il his body was found their
buildings and property would be destroyed.
McCook hearing the inquiries, told them
to open the house 10 his friends. DR.. Cor
don, Of the 95th Ohio, and DR.. Boyle, OF
the 9th Ohio, came up, examined the
wound, prononncing It fatal. The wound
was in the bowels, a single ball entering
the left side and coming out between the
9th and 10th ribs. When the physicians
arrived Gen. MeCOok was vomiting blood.
He was cool and calm TO the last, but suf-
fered greatly, giving Capt. Burt and 9TH
ers an account Of the assassination. While
on the road Gen. McCook met a man in q
rayine, and asked him If he knew a good
place to encamp. The man told him there
was plenty of water on the hill beyond,
and seemed anxious to hurry him on.
Arriving at the top Of the hill shot was
fired without effect. AS soon as General
McCook heard the shot, he told John (his
colored servant) 10 turn back that the
bnshwhackers were upon them. They
started back at full speed, General McCook
leaning on his knees and assisting the
driver. In the flight q number Of shots
were fired. Eleven holes were found in
the wagon, MoCook receiving q single
ball. Before the fatal shot was fired, q
| rebel cavalryman ordered the wagon "a
halt, leveling the pistol across the horn Of
the saddle. General McCook told the driver
to stop, which the driver was in the act Of
doing, when the cavalryman ordered halt
o second time, accompanying the order
with q discharge of the pistol, the bal
piercing the Generals side. Capt. Brooke
of McCook's staff, implored the cavalry
man not to shoot, assuring him the wagon
was occupied by sick man. Another
bushwhacker rode up with a cooked pistol
but McCook told him it was no use to shoot
that he was fatally wounded already.
Capt. Brooke then conveyed McCOok tC
Petty's house. The negro John, escaped
to the cornfeld as the bushWhackers threat
ened to kill the Yankee negro.
The residents proposed to hide Genera
McCook's body away in the negro quarters
fearing, they said, if the Yankee should
die on their hands, their premises woulC
be burned; but he was permitted to die a
the farm house.
Recovering from his paroxysm, Genera
McCook said to Captain Burt: ANDY, tn
problem Of life will soon be solved for me-
In reply to Father Betty, if he had an!
message to his brother Alex, he said: ''Hel
him and the restI have tried to live as
man, and die attempting to do my duty"
To Capt. Burt he said: MY good boy
may your life be longer and to a bette
purpose than mine" Father Betty, tn
brigade wagon master, was with him in hi
last moments. Clasping his hand in tn
death struggle, he said to him; al
done with life; yes, this ends it all. YOl
and part now, but the loss of ten thou
sand such lives as yours and mine woult
be nothing, if their sacrifice would bu
save such a government as ours"
Before his death Gen. McCOok sent fo
Col. VandeYer, who drew up his viii. Ii
his will he directed that two favorit
horses should be given to his brothers
Aleek and Daniel, and the remainder o
his property to his mother.
It is known to Capt. Burt and others o
McCook's staff that the General was de
liberately assassinated. The sutler of tn
9Th Ohio heard the bushwhackers arrang
the plan for the assassination, but had n
opportunity 10 communicate the informa
| tion IN Mc(look