Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-01-13
The hoy Captain.

sixteen years old, he went TO Ken
yon College, in Ohio. But he did
not stay there long. For President
Lincoln made call for men to fight
for the flag; and when he read it
Charles said that he could not stay
at home. All his elder brothers
had gone to the war and he would
not be left behind them.
So he left his lessons and should
cred his musket; and he was cleo
ted captain in the Steubenville
Guard.
His regiment was one of the
brigade which led the advance in
the fatal field of Bull Run.
He was not the only McCook in
that battle or even in that brigade.
An old man sixty-three years of
age, went with him to the field.
That grayhaired patriarch was his
father. Another brother also was
with the old man; and still another
brother commanded the Ohio first.
Four members of one family all
marched in the same brigade to
fight the rebellion hosts.
The battle, as you all know was a
fierce one and was waged all day
long. The hoy did honor TO his
name and to his cause. He stood
nobly and fought bravely at the
head of his gallant men.
Towards evening it was thought
that the Northern army had wor
the field.
The old man now sought out hi'
son and took him over. to the hos
pital to have a lunch.
The father had been engaged
since the battle opened in carrying
off the dead and wounded; and the
son had been so busily employed in
the work of war all day that he
had not eaten a .mouthful.
AS he was eating a lunch the tide
of battle turned.
The rebels received reinforce
ments from Richmond; and the
fresh troops were attacking ou1
worn out soldiers with fierce and
bloody ardor.
Young McCook hurried back to
join the Company,
AS he was crossing the field q
party of rebel cavalry charged up
on the officers and soldiers who had
gathered around the hospital.
Young McCook ran toward fence
and began to retreat. A rebel sol
der saw him and galloped up to
make him a prisoner, but he did
not do it.
Taking steady aim, the young
soldier fired his pistol, and the reb-
ell fell dead from his horse. The
rebel leader saw the private fall,
and rushed at young McCook in an
instant. With his pistol cooked, he
ordered him to surrender. But
McCook, with fearless heart and a
defiant eye, replied, 81 aoW necer'
surrender to a traitor"
He kept on his way. Still the
Southern officer held his fire. BY
all the rules of war, you know he
was justified in shooting the young
soldier; but probably he was un-
willing to do so, from admiration of
his courage, or compassion on his
youth.
Just as he defied the rebel his
father saw him, and shouted to him
to surrender, but it was in vain.
"Father," replied the boy, in
tones, 81 can never surren-
der to a rebel"
The Southern trooper galloped
past him and fired. The shot took
effect in his back.
".Smvender." shouted the rebel
again.
"NEvER was still the inexora-
BILE reply.
The trooper drew his sword and
struck him over the back with the
fiat edge of it, again and again call
ing on him to surrender, and
to run him through if
he persisted in refusing.
But still young McCook defied
him.
He would have been cut down in
4 second il his father had not rush
ed in and saved his life. The old
man carried him back to the hos
pital. His wound was examined
and the surgeons said that it would
probably not prove fatal.