Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-13
Story Of the Slayer Of Gen, McCpok,

Tho account that Capt. Gurloy gives
Of this ailrny fully relieves IT of Nil taint
of Observation-Disclosures or brutality, and
shows IL to have been ~ fair and honor
ably conducted on his part as any com
bat of the war.
"I'he scene of the combat was on the
Winchester and Athens dirt road, near
tho Alabama and Tennessee line, aud
three or four miles from the village of
New Market, Ala. On Tuesday, August
9th, 1869, being in that ncighborhood
with thirty men Of my own company
and about the Same number under Capt.
lIambrick, courier reported to us that
there was % largo herd of beef cattle
under Federal cavalry escort, up-
preaching the Athens road. II occurred
to mo TINT we might, by u dash, be able
to stampede tho cattle into tho thick
woods on tho route and ,ls0 them for
our subsistence as needed had no
thought of u serious collision with an
infantry force. On reaching the road
tho enemy was travelling, we found That
u regiment of cavalry had just passed
on. halted my men as they stood-,in
column of fours across tho road, not
decming II necessary to form line of bat-
tle--and then rode forward TO reconnoi-
ter In tho direction strom whence the
enemy had como. had proceeded but
" short distance before ] met the nd
vance man OF the approaching cavalry
force, when, on observing mo, p fell
back on those in support; these soon col
lccted in considerable numbers and be-
gun to move forward cautiously. re.
tired slowly, with n view to getting
them to como within reach of my guns,
and this, after some mancuvcring, was
enabled to accomplish, when waved u
signal to Captain Ilambrick to fire. and
passed aside into the woods to get out of
range of tho shot. The opposing cav
nlry numbered about two hundred, but
il broke almost ut the first round fired
by Capt. lIambrck and began falling
back rapidly. We now charged head
long, and in half milo came upon u
large wagon train, which fell into our
hands without any resistance. The
chase was continued beyond tho wag-
ons, and after passing them | observed
two-horso vehicle with tho curtains
drawn making Oft down the road to tho
rear ut % furious speed. ! pushed on
after it, and after chase of more than
half mile, ! got close enough to order
halt, to which no attention was paid.
Tho vehicle was a private cab, such as
were III frequent Use about Huntsville
for school children, having seats on tho
side like an omnibus, and was driven by
u negro belonging to General Gideon
Pillow, but now in the service Of General
McCook, as was shortly developed. BY
tho way, it is of interest to noto that
General Bucl had issued q very stringent
order against tho practice of receiving
fugitive slaves into camp, and ii was Il
disregard Of this order that led remotely
to General McCook's death, as will be
seen from the following:
at appears that the General, accompa-
MED by several members of his staff,
was in advance of his brigade nearly
two miles, and probably travelling just
in tho rear of the wagon train mention
cd. When the st;sslpcdo began at tho
front he turned to 20 back to his brig
age. Tho negro was in great fear of his
life, and becoming very much excited,
drove his horses at % furious gait, to
which tho inmates of the cab were pro-
badly not avorsc, as it was no great dis
tancc to the shelter of tho brigade of
infantry. AS said before, the curtains
of the cab were down, and I was unable
to see the occupant, but at apont where
the road made turn out of the way of
an ovcrhangiug tree, the driver was oi-
ther too badly scared or was unable to
control his horses, and instead of follow
ing the turn he kept straight ahead.
The consequence was the top of the
vehicle was torn off to the seats, expos
ing now for the first time the inmates to
view. A man in military dress sat on
the right, and one in his shirt sleeves on
the left. From the fact that the latter
had on white shirt took him to be
either a citizen or u person of no impor-
tance, and directed my attention to
the man on the right, who proved to be
Captain Hunter Brooke, of General
McCook's staff.
"rhc race had continued over mile
so closely contested was it, before | got
near enough to fire to effect, but the
fugitivcs had been repeatedly ordered to
halt and surrender before this
"Scoing no evidence of a disposition on
their part to comply with the demand,
Iraiscd my pistol at the distance of fifty
yards and fired three times ut the officer
on the right, who, as said before, was
conspicuous on account of his uniform.
At this time the cab began to slacken
pace, and | soon got up with it. The
person in his shirt sleeves, who proved
to be General McCook, then called out
to me that he was shot. told him that
| was not shooting at him, still suppos-
ing that he was a citizen, and asked
why the party did not surrender when
- Id bn,, ,o,o, adv co Had ,,non fn In