The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-09
Death Of General Robert Mo0ook,


The death Of that brave and noble
soldier, General McCOOK, by the hand Of
rebel ASA ssin, will GIL the heart Of
every patriot with indignation and hOr-
ror. A sick man, murdered in his ann
bulance, and murdered deliberately
such a death had fate decrced to close
the honorable career Of one Of noble
band Of brothers. Sad and unwelcome
though Il be 10 us, IL met him a will
ing martyr 10 the cause Of his country,
for 70 one 80 true and loyal, life was no
treasure to be boarded up like the mi
ser's gold, when the life Of the land
which gave him birth was at stake. In
advance Of his brigade--too far perhaps
for prudence--whiIe in the discharge of
his duty, he persisted by the bullet Of
murderer and a traitor Faithful TO the
last, while others would have made dis
ease pretext for inaction and repose,
he spurned the thought Of rest, and was
carried in a sick bed at the head of his
command. How many others would
have excused themselves from service
and exposure in ike circumstances. Let
the army Of idlers who squAnder their
time, and the treasures Of their country
in inglorious idleness and reyelry, at
time when they should be in the field,
in all the pAnoply Of the warrior, be adj
monished by the death of him whom we
now lament. "Bettor to wear out than
rust out" as a great pulpit orator once
said 10 his demonstrating physician.
Roman history furnishes one parallel to
his death in that of the great orator and
patriot Cicero, who having snatched his
country from the jaws of formidable
conspiracy, during the fearful civil
war which afterwards ragged over
Italy, was murdered in his litter
by the partisans Of AUGUSTUS, while
being carried TO the seaside by
his servants Perhaps shadow of re-
greet passed over the soul of the dying
warrior, that he was doomed to perish
thus, rather than at the head Of his charg-
ing column, under the flag of his country,
amid the roar Of battle; but that shadow
will be dispelled by the brightness of
joy if his departed shade, looking down
from Heaven shall see a holy indignation
and a burning thirst for vengeance inspire
the breasts of his soldiers bereaved of
their beloved chieGtain. Men of Ohio
Soldiers Of McCooK's Brigade will not
the ring of the assassin's death shot sound
in your ears louder than muskets vol
leying crash or lannon's roar, in every
future onset? When through the whist
ling shot, and sitting smoke, and infer
nal flame Of battle, you bear the holy
banner of patriotism against the pirate
flag of treason, will not the manly shade
of McCooK, like the spectre of Saint
James, at the head of the Christian war
riors of Spain, when battling with the
Moor, appear again in your van, invoking
you 10 victory, while
Heavens fiery horse, bereath his warrior f,rm,
Paws the light clouds and galops on The storm
If the death of your former leader
adds force to your arms, and ardOr to
your hearts, then may his martyrdom
prove the richest offering yet made by
our afflicted land to the Goddess of free
dom.
I'VE must forget all feelings save the QUE
We must resign all passions save our purpcs'
We must behold no obi ct save our country
And only look on death as beautiful,
so that the sacrifice ascend % heaven
And draw down freedom on her ever more.
And as we repeat these words of the
Venetian patriot spirits voice echoes
upon the air
They never tail Who dio
lu great cause the block may soak thoir gore
Their heads may sodden In the suB their limbs
Ne strung 10 city gates aud castle walls
Hut SIN their spirit walks abroad. Though years
Elapao, and others shaio as dark doom,
They but augment the deep and sweeping thoughts,
Which Overpowtra all others, and C1nuuct
Tho world az last % freedom