Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-07-16
HOW A DESERTER ESCAPED,
saved by an Appeal to President Lin
coin, Forwarded by Gen.
McCook's Wife.


AT Stone river, saiG Capt. Rothaker
to the artist who complies the Cbicaeo
inter ocean "Coblestone Crayons," "a
young fellow about Is years of age. and
strong In neither mind nor body, desert
ed from the Fifty Ohio. II was
his first fight and he could not stand the
pressure. The men of the comnanv he
heveo that the boy was not responsible
and they gave the matter little atten-
ion, but in due time he was arrested
'rleu before court martial, found guilty
vi assertion, and was sentenced to be
shot' AS usual in such cases a detail
from the deserter's own regiment was or
dered to carry out the sentence.
This was in the spring of 1861 The
order was delivered at brigade headquar-
ters on the evening before the day fixed
Ior the execution. Col. Dan McCook. of
the t1fty-second, was then in command
OF the brigade. He couldn't sleep. and at
breakfast the next morning his wife
asked him what the trouble was. He re-
Piled that one of the Fifty-second regi-
ment was to be shot by men of the Fifty
second, and he declared that he would
rather lead the regiment in the hardest
battle of the war than order it to take
part In such an execution. He felt the dis
grace himself and he knew that every
man in the regiment would be humili-
ated. Mrs. McCook asked questions until
she was in possession of all the facts
bearing on the case of the young deserter.
After telling his story the colonel
went to brigade Headquarters to issue his
nr IN III n
the F1tty-second Ohio, to have the guard
detailed, one man from each company.
While the colonel was doing this his wife
took an ambulance, drove down into
Nashville, went to the telegraph office.
and insisted that she be put into immedi-
ate communication with President Lin
coin. As soon as com munication was
opened with the white house she stated
the facts and pleaded for the life of the
boy. In about two hours she returned
with full reprieve aud | never saw on
COL Dan McCook's face a happier look
than it wore as he dashed past the camp
on his way to Ger MitchelTs headuuar-
ters. The order of execution was re-
called. ard the men of the Fifty-second
aid not shoot a dozerter from the Fifty
|
sensitiVeness OF Col. Dan McCook and
his pride in his regiment.
The same spirit" said the colonel,
was exhibited in the very last act of
Col. Dan McCook's life. In the assault
on Kenesaw mountain June 81. 1864,
Col. Dan McCool and his brigade and
Col. Harker and his brigade were select
ed as the column of direction. In Nc
Cooks brigade were the One Hundred
and Twenty fifth Illinois in the front
line, with the Eighty-fifth and Eighty
sixth Illinois, the tifty-second Ohio, and
the Twenty Indiana. following in
the order named. Just before the One
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois
reached the rebel works the color bearer
was killed. Col. Dan McCook. leading his
brigade. caught mp the colors. and wav-
ing the flag went forward at the apex OF
the thin assaulting line.
with the flag in his left hand he
climbed up on the rebel breastworks on
his hands and knees. and when he got 10
the top stood erect waving the colors
with his Left hand and with his right
hand striking down the bayonets Of the
men inside Of the WORKS who we're press
ing close about him. At the same time,