The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-24
M'COOK'S MONU MENT.
GENERAL ROBERT L. NJ COOK IN CINCINNATI
HIS CAREER.

GENERAL ROBERT L. NJ COOK IN CINCINNATI
HIS CAREER.
ny TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, August %, Is77
AT ton O'Clock this morning tho monument to the
memory Of General Robert l.. McCook, which had
been designed for aud constructed by the Ninth OHIO
Rcgimcnta Association, OF which General McCook
the lrst commandcr unveiled and presented tho
city Of Cincinnati with imposing ceremonies A long
procession embracing. in it's numbers the surviving
members Of the Ninth regiment those OF the McCook
family, and tho First regiment, Ohio National Guard
Tho Turner's Cadets the Turner's Association and
four hvc bands of music. under tho escort of
tachmcnt OF the police marched through many Of the
principal streets, bringing up at eleven O'Clock
western entrance to Washington Park The site
chosen for the monument in tho centre
OF this park and facing the Cincinnati
Music Hail. Here crowd Of 5000 people had gath
cred to witness the ceremonies. The venerable
mother Of General McCook; his brother, General A.
McDowel McCook; Colonel J. j. McCook Of Now
York; George W. McCook, Jr, Of SteubenvLo; Mrs
4. s. McCook OF Washington and Mrs. II. W. Bald
win, Of New YORK, being tho remnant OF the once
large family. with tho single exception of one son.
George ". McCook, who is abroad. seated tho
platform Around the monument were draped vari.
Gus battle flags Of the regiment serving veil to
niue u from the SuZc OF the puOuC Until inc proper
moment.
The ceremonies opened by speech from Major
~ Pohlman president OF the association, who briefly
presented tho work OF art to The CITY OF Cincinnati.
TINS was responded to by Mayor Moore, on behalf OF
the CITY, after which Senator Stanley Matthews madc
an address. After he had concluded, tho Rev Max
lilientha spoke in tho German language. On being
unveiled the monument was revealed, granite base
surmounted BY n bust oil heroic size, made from
Carara marble by u resident artist, Leopold ettwcs
Jr. Iu the bust McCook is represented the
uudress uniform OF colonel, with overc,at thrown
IL. col
piote tho dress. the bust square pedestal
OF gray granite twelve feet high making the whole
hoght fifteen feet On tho do Ia raised letters
appears as inscription simply The 'Colonel Il.
j. McCook." Around the sprc there thirty Hour
stars in has rcle the number Of states in the Union
the year McCook fell Around the cap on which tho
bust rests are four laurel wreahs and on the front tho
acorn, tho emblem OF tho Fourteenth army corps, 10
which the regiment belonged.
GENERAL ROBERT l.. N'cooK.
The one TO whose honor the onument cd
to-day was the fourth son OF Major Daniel McCook, Of
Columbiana county, who was the father oil the light
ing McCooks, as they were known through the late
war. Eight sous tho old man had when the broke
out, and seven Of those and tho old himself
engaged the conflict before It's close, be-
came prominent because OF their earnest devotion to
tho cause OF the Cnlon. Four OF tho eight including the
patriarch, manifested their devotion to Il by the sac
lice Of their lives. "bob" McCook, as he was iamlI-
iarly known to thousands IN his native State, was
practising law with Judge SaIlo here IN Cincinnati at
tho Time tho war broke out lie had been here Tor
several years, ana his professional relations with the
foremost oi the German lawyers brought him natu-
rally into intimate associations with the German
the Germans held meeting at Turner Hall ami
at the same time they commenced the enlistment
of German rcgmentthc Ninth Ohio, as II aitcrward
became wien The process oil numbering began. HIS
popularity and the nfuenceeo his pari secured
him the appointment Of Colonel. and, without any mill
tary training whatever, he at assumed Tho ordi-
nary duties Of the position. The regiment ran beyond
tho limits in numbers, there being iiteen hundred
volunteers who Joined within very few days OF its
organizaton because Of its being the nrst regiment
OF Germans formed in the State When they went
into camp at Camp Dennson, on tho 18th
OF May, 1861, McCook's Jolly Dutchmcn. -
as they then called, among those most
petcd 1T that military rendezvous. AIterward when
they were moved to West Virginia, tn ey front
rank in the military operations OF the irst three
months of the war. Al the battle of Rich Mountain
led by heir colonel the regiment was conspicuous tor
its gall 'ntry and McCook received SPECIAL me nj lion
from General Rosccrans Tor his bravery exec
lent management OF his regiment.
Alter the time OF their three months enlistment had
expired Colonel McCOok re-cnlisted his regiment
almost TO man Tor three years, and was himself ad
vanced in rank to Brisadisr General To this arrange
ment however, he only consented upon condition that
his Duchman" should DC IN Tho brigade, saying that
that he proposed 70 stick by them While
It lasted This arrangement was agreed to
sisIins Of the Ninth Ohio, the Thirty 'i NIL, i
OHIO ana the Second Minnesota and he was assigned
to tho Army OF the OHIO then operating IN Kentucky
under General Don Carlos BucL In the battle OF
/ Plitsburg Landing and the siege OF Corntn Gen
cral McCook was a conspicuous figure. Aterward,
when Bucls army was directed 10 move Chatta-
nooea his brigade sent TO the relief OF
Nashville, then threatened by the rebel forces
ceded this movement General McCook had contracted
the camp dyscntery, and though his surgeons urged
him 10 60 TO Nashville where lie could hope TO recover
hts usual health by good nursing and quiet he OBJ
stinatcly refused Ho had out to lead his Brigade
and he intended 10 do IT, sick or well. Beng uuabo
20 ride on horseback he had an ambulance fitted up
with cot ana pillows and 10 tins recumbent posture
he drove at tho head OF his army.
On the 9th OF August 1867, no was advancing with
his troops IN this way whcn comm: 10 tho forks Of
road II was discovered that a part o, the brigade
which was In the advance had taken the wrong direc-
4 hu WAS
ordered OF the troops there while those who had
gone IN The wrong direction could be recalled.
During the time that this was being effected General
McCook drove ahead In MS anu uance accompanied
by an escort of ten men, including Colonel Hunter
Brooke and Major Boynton of his star Colonel
Brooke was Ia the ambulance with hun, and Two or
three soldiers were aon. with H. while tho remainder
OF the had been sent IN advance TO look out
the road. Suddenly company oil mounted gucrilias,
numbering between and two hundred, came DASH
MORALLY wounding the sick man, VINO was stretched
helpless the vehicle They took the others Prisoners
and leaving McCook in q nciehborins farm house.
dashed back INTO the country.
General McCook, though mor'aily wounded, fingered
Tor a day during which Time he made bis VIII and set
tied up his worldly affairs. On the 9th OF August no
died. Aitcrward his remains were brought here and
Inferred In spring Grove Ccmctry
RETALIATION.
On the 4th OF September Tho year following Dan
McCook, younger brother, was marching with his
regmcni-lhc Fiity.sccond Ohio-through the same
section OF country Upon learning they had passed
tho residence the VINO was SAID 10 nave hrcd tho
shot that killed his brother he ordered "A detachment
Of soldiers burn TO the und aud destroy every
thing that could he destroyed upon the place, thus
tai ating for the death OF hrs brother, VINO the
pride OF tho family ana indeed OF the OHIO army.