Year: 1862

towards, but stand and defend the
General. In vain did the latter hin


self order them to rally in the roa
between the guerillas and his vehicle
so as to give him time to get star
They followed their craven instincts
and sacrificed their General. Th
! brave sixth man stood alone, and wa


wounded and captured. The Genera


was riding in spring wagon and ly


ing DOWN. &c., sr 7s4


Captain Hunter Brooke, formerly o


this city, was riding with the Genera


who, owing to his feeble condition, wa
lying in the bottom Of the box. Whel
the guerrillas opened fire upon tn,
conveyance, Gen. McCook at once ex
claimed, "The bushwhackers are upol
U.S." ordered the driver, his negro ser
want John, to turn quickly around
and rose to his knees to assist him il
holding the frightened horses. The
team was just fairly started, when the
murderer Of the General came up and
ordered him to halt. 1t being impos,
sible to stop the spirited horses at once,
the team kept moving, when the guer-
lila again ordered it to halt, but al.
most instantaneously fired the fatal
shot from his carbine, although Cap
tain Brooke begged him not to fire
upon sick man. Another rebel rode
up at the same time and aimed his
gun, when the General told him res
proachfully, "You needn't shoot, I am
already fatal y wounded" The bullet
passed entirely through his body, fa-
tally tearing the intestines. #.


The main body of the rebels pursued



the flying escort, and but three or four
remained with their victim. The Gen
eral was driven to and taken into the
house, at which he died, by Captain
Brooke and John. He stated after
wards, that when the party came up
h


to the house the occupants, men, wo-
men and children, clapped their hands
in appreciation of the rebel achieve
ment. In few minutes those that
had gone in pursuit, came tearing
back, and hurried off with Captain
Brooke. John, upon the advice Of
the General, had previously managed
to escape out of the house and through
a corn field. Shortly afterwards Capt.
Burt and party arrived.


The General lived about twenty-four
hours after being wounded. He was
conscious to the last, although fire.
quently unable to speak from the dread
full pain he was suffering. Whenever
able he uttered words of advice, graft
tude and consolation to those around
him. The last moments found him as
firm and calm as ever he was in the
face of death.


The whole brigade arrived at the
house about an hour after he was
wounded. The men came up in double
quick, painting and shouting for ven
geance. The effect of the sad sight
of their mortally wounded General
upon them was most distressing. All
day and night the faithful soldiery
were grouped about the house, waiting
their tnrn to bid last farewell to
their commander. Neither among the
officers nor men was there dry eve
or lip not quivering with anguish.
A more moving scene, it is said, was
never beheld. The brigade did not
resume its march until the General had
breathed his last. "


Retribution--terrible retribution.--
is being dealt by the 9th Ohio. The
hands of the men that cheered rebel
will clap no more. With
fire and sword and bayonet, the scene
of the foul assassination was reduced
to a state of desolation from which it
will not recover until time will have
swept away the remembrance Of the
death of Robert L. McCook. gEs


Captain Brooke was paroled on the
day after his capture and returned to
our lines, but not in time to accompany
the body here Gin. Con mercial.