The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22
BUSHWHACKING OF BOB McCOOK.
apt Gurley's Guerrilla Band and Its Infa
nous Deeds.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some
time ago read from a correspondent Of
The National Tribune an account of the
bushwhacking Of Gen. Bob McCook,
which the author said took place at
Athens, Ala.
/ desire to give the particulars Of the
tragedy, the principal actors, and few
incidents of their lives and surroundings,
and a few other facts known to me per-
sonally, which will perhaps be of some,
interest to your readers.
AT the breaking out of the civil war
there lived near Maysville Ia small town
10 miles east of Huntsville, Ala.) family
by name of Harrison, relative Of ex
President Harrison. Mr.. Harrison at once
declared himself in sympathy with the
North and in favor of supporting Abra-
ham Lincoln in vigorous prosecution of
the war. Mrs. Harrison was as intensely
rebel as her husband was loyal, and her
sympathies were all with the South.
The fact Of Mr.. Harrison being a
wealthy, honorable, heightened gentleman
was the only thing that saved his life
and his property from destruction. A
neighbor of Mr.. Harrison's, Mr.. Gurley,
4th Ala. (rebeD Cav, and was made its
Captain. Capt. Gurley served with For
rest and Wheeler for several months, then
came home and with the greater part
Of his company began a system of bush
whacking and guerrilla warfare, which
lasted until the band was broken up by
Wilder's Brigade in the Fall of 1868.
While this band was in operation it was
one of the most treacherous, coidblooded
bands in the South. In the Fall of 1852
Gen. Bob McCook, while camped with
his command at Huntsville, became very
sick, and it was proposed to send him to
the rear, and, l think, to his home in
Ohio to regain his health. Capt Gurley
had spy in Huntsville watching the
movements of the army, and when he
learned that it was proposed to send Nc
Cook toward Stevenson in an ambulance,
the spy fastened to Cedar Pass, eight
miles east of Huntsville, and Informed his
chieftain. The band moved on east of
Maysville and secreted themselves in
dense cedar thicket, which lined the road
on either side, and waited their oppOrtun-
ity. The place was well chosen; the
cedars were SO thick that men could secret
themselves within few yards of the road
and could easily hide from one not ac
quainted with the country. While pass
ing this place the guards were some dis
lance from the ambulance, and the Gen
tIdi. lillle VI uduSeI, Nutu Sdpl
Gurley with his band, rode out, surrounded
the ambulance and began firing at the oc-
cupant. The General begged piteously
for his life, for them not to murder him
in cold blood, but to no purpose. He was
riddled with bullets and the guerrillas rode
into the thicket and disappeared before the
guards, who heard the firing could come
to the rescue. The guerrillas went direct
ly to the Harrison plantation, where Mrs.
Harrison prepared for them a splendid
dinner, while they boosted of their days
work. Capt. GIrley BACKED and other
wise disguised himself, and went to Hunts
vile to hear the news. He there hung
around headquarters and heard how he
and his band had bushwhacked Gen. Nc
Cook and had so mysteriously disappeared,
and could not be found. A few days after
this Mr.. Harrison was at Gen. Logan's
headquarters, and thought he recognized
the Captain, and calling roughly to him
said, Come out here, Niger; want to
see you" and then said to him, Frank
Gurley, IL you do not leave this town at
once. they will identify you and hang
you" The Captain took him at his word
and left. The McCook family immediate
ly offered a reward of $1,000 for the cap
ture of the guerilla Captain. Soon after
Mr.. Harrison was sent to Washington, ID.
c., on important Government business,
and upon the night of his return there
asked, "Who is there" A voice answered, |
"a friend" She said: "If you are friend
go away and do not disturb us, for there
are no men about but the servants, and
we do not want to be disturbed" The
voice then said: 1--WE want to see Mr.. |
Harrison" She said: "Mr. Harrison is |
not at home, and has not been for several
days" The answer was: HE is at home, |
for we have been watching the house for
a week, day and night, and saw him when
he came home. If you do not open the |
door we will batter the door down and
come in anyway"
Mr.. Harrison then said he would open
the door if they would give him their
promise that no one should be injured.
They promised him, and when he opened
the door in walked Capt. Gurley, broth
er-in-law by the name Of Mead, and big
Methodist preacher who lived in the neigh
bOrho0d and was known at the time and
until the day of his death by the name of
Bushwhack johnson. When they were
seated thsy asked Mr.. Harrison what was
the news In Washington and what the
T iuaoln manila fhnuObk about 81