The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-22
AND DEMOCRAT
Assassination of General
McCOOk.
PARTICULARS OF THE AFFAIR.

PARTICULARS OF THE AFFAIR.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Com o. ercial.
LOUISVILLE, August 8-The remains of
the late Bobert L. McCook reached here
this evening in charge OF Captains Burt
and Fuchshuter and eleven of the 9th Ohio.
They were received at the Nashville depot
by Captain billiards. Provost Guards and
escorted to the Gait House. They leave by
train IN the morning and will arrive at Gin
cinnati at noon tomorrow.
have from Captain Burt the particu-
lars of the death. The brigade left point
fourteen miles below the Tennessee State
line for Decherd on the 5th. On the road
General McCook, who was unwel, took the
advance in spring wagon, about mile in
advance of the brigade. Suddenly courier
dashed back to the brigade and said the
wagon, in which General McCook was rid
ing, bad been fired upon by bushwhackers.
Immediately Colonel Vandever, of the 35th
Ohio, sent Captain Earhart's company for
ward on double quick to the rescue, loading
as they ran. They met stragglers from Nc
Cooks body guard retreating, pursued by
rebel cavalry. Shots were exchanged and
the rebel cavalry retreated. The federal
infantry were too slow in pursuit, when
Captain Burt, of the 18th Infantry, Lieut.
Harris, Captains Fuchshultzer, Stangel,
and Captain Thangel, Of the 9th Ohio, dash
ed forward in pursuit of the retreating reb.
ell cavalry. General McCook was then
lying on the piazza, at Petty's farm, four
miles from New Market, and half mile
from the Tennessee State line. They inqui-
red at the farm house for information of
McCook but the people would or could not
give information, fearing if his body was
found their buildings and property would
be destroyed. McCook hearing the inqui-
ries, told them to open the house to bis
friends. Dr. Gordon of the 35th Ohio, and
DR.. Boyle of the 9th Ohio, came up and ex-
amined the wound, pronouncing it fatal.
The wound was in the bowels, a single ball
tween the 9th and 10th ribs. When the
physician arrived Gen. McCook was vomit-
ing blood. He was cool and calm to the
last, but suffered greatly, giving Capt. Burt
and others an account of the assassination.
While on the road Gen. McCook met a man
in the ravine, 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, q shot
was fired without effect. AS soon as Gen.
McCook heard the shot, he told John This
| colOred servant) to turn back the wagon;
| that the bushwhackers were upon them.
They started back in fall speed, Gen. Nc
| Cook leaning on bis knees, and assisting
the driver. In the flight number OF shots
were fired. Eleven holes were found in the
wagon, McCook receiving single ball.
Before the fatal shot was fired, rebel cav
alryman ordered the wagon to halt, level.
ing pistol across the horn of his saddle.
General McCook told the driver to stop,
which the driver was in the act of doing,
when the cavalryman ordered halt the
second time, accompanying the order with
| discharge of the pistol, the ball piercing
the Generals side. Captain Brooke, Of
McCook's staff, implored the cavalryman
not to shoot, assuring him the wagon was
occupied by sick man. Another bush.
whacker rode up with cooked pistol, but
McCook told him that it was no use to
shoot; that he was fatally wounded already.
Captain Brooke then conveyed Nc Cook
to Petty's house. The negro, John, escap.
ed to corn field, as the bushwhackers re-
treated to kill the negro.
The residents proposed to hide Gen. Nc.
Cooks body away in the negro quarters,
fearing, as they said, if the Yankee should
| die on their hands their premises would be
burned; but he was permitted to die at the
farm house. -.. ...... ..........
Recovering from his paroxysm, General
McCook said to Captain Burt: candy, the
problem of life will soon be solved for me-"
In reply to Father Betty, if be had any
message for his brother, Alexander, be said:
"Tell him and the rest I have tried to live
as man, and die attempting to do nv
duty"
To Captain Burt he said: "My good boy,
may your life be longer and to a better
purpose than mine" Father Betty, the
brigade wagon master, was with him in his
last moments. Clasping his hands in the
death struggle, he said to him: al am
done with life; yes, this ends it all You
and | part now, but the loss of 10000 such
lives as yours and mine would be nothing,
if their sacrifice would but save such gov
| eminent as ours"
Before his death General McCook sent
for Colonel Vandever, who drew up his
will. In bis will he directed that two ia,
vorite horses should be given to bis broth
ers, Aleck and Daniel, and the remainder of
his property to bis mother.
1t is known to Capt. Burt and Others of
McCook's staff, that the General was DELHI.
erately assassiDated. The suter of the 9th
Ohio heard the bushwhackers arrange
plan for the assassination, but had no OPP
portunity to communicate information to
McCook or staff.
At recent sale of negroes in Ken