The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-24
nv nIruAnD sP1LLANE.

One of the proud stories of the
Z South told many times in the days OF
sorrow after the Civil War was OF the
Spartan mother whose seven sons were
sacriiiced on the altar OF the Confeder-
acy. one of the proud stories OF the
North was Of the noble widow to whom
Lincoln wrote letter that is one of
the most beautiful in the English Ian
guage. she gave her FIVE sons--her all
to the Union cause. One of the
proud stories of My Lady of Shows Is
of the wonderful brothers lie Moyne.
Ten of the eleven fought beneath the
banner OF King Louis in New France.
Two of them--Iberville and Bienville-t
are among the greatest men Canada
has given to the world.
But the seven sons of the Spartan
mother of the southern land. the five
sons of the widow of the North AMI
the ten brothers LIE Moyne are not to
be ranked above the McCooks-the
fighting McCooks-the most remark
able family of martial men in the his
tory of the United States, If not in the
history of the world.
There were fifteen of the McCooks,
and every one of them served in the
Northern cause. In one battle five of
them fought side by side. In the bat
tle of Bull Run one of them died IN
the arms of his father. The old anu
i sIIle young 1OuGHt. Inc strong ana Viz
infirm went to battle together. A ia
Their who was SIXTY three enlisted at
the same time that his youngest son.
who was sixteen, offered his services
to the government. The father was
commissioned major and the young
est son a lieutenant. The father died
in battle. The boy left the army at
the close of the war Lieutenant
colonel. although he was only twenty
years old.
Marvellous was the record OF the
fighting McCooks. Seven rose to be
generals All but one of the fourteen
were commissioned officers. Four were
killed in battle. One died of his wounds
and exposure Those who survived the
war rose to prominence in the church,
in the law or in letters.
England Scotland and ireland may
claim the McCooks, bat Ireland's claim
would appear to be the strongest. for
George McCook, the first of the family
to come to America. was an Irish ref
ugee, one of the leaders in the United
Irish party, who had to flee from Ire
land in 1880.
Mary Latimer, his wife. was OF
Scotch descent and was direct de-
scendant of the famous Hugh Latimer
the martyr of the English Reforma
ton. who. with Ridley, was burned
at the stake in oxford. October l6
1855. great fighting compound il
that made of English, Scotch and Irisl
blood The English give stolidity
sturdy courage and patience. Th
Scotch give tenacity. imagination ant
zeal of a high order. The Irish Civ
elan.s
The Irish refugee, coming to Amer
lea near the close of the War of tn
Revolution, found plenty TO do in thos
stirring times. Then westward h
turned his way and established hom
In Pennsylvania. There. at Cannons
burg. were born the two sons who wer,
to lead all their male children, tn
fighting McCooks, into the Civil War
While the McCooks are classed a:
one family. they really are two Thes'
are distinguished as the Tribe of Dar
and the Tribe of John. There wer,
nine of the Tribe OF Dan and six Of
the Tribe of John.
No better way of telling their ex.