MURDER OF COLONEL MCCOOK. EXTRACT of a letter written by a gentleman who was in Huntsville, Alabama, at the time of the murder of Colonel McCook. We vouch for its truthfulness. HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, August 8th, 1862. Dear Sir: Colonel McCook was murdered by the notorious Frank Gurley, this morning. The facts of the case are these:-Colonel McCook was on his way with his brigade from Tuscumbia, Alabama, to Winchester, Tennessee, and being sick, was travelling in an ambulance, and was considerably in advance of his brigade, without a guard. When near Salem, Tennessee, he was surprised by a party of Gurley's men. The mules became frightened and started to run. Colonel McCook dropped on his knees, and seized the lines to help the driver hold them up, and was in this position when shot in the abdomen by Gurley, to whom he called out not to shoot, that he surrendered, and told him his name and rank; but his appeals were not heard or heeded by the blood-thirsty wretch. After killing Colonel McCook, the guerrillas took the mules out of the ambulance and burned it, and made off with at least two of his staff, before the brigade arrived. This Frank Gurley has been, since the rebellion commenced, at the head of a gang of thieves and scoundrels, numbering about eighty, who have depredated upon scattered soldiers, and the Unionists in the neighborhood of Madison and Jackson counties, Tennessee, inflicting upon them the most cruel barbarities imaginable, when they knew they had the advantage on their own side. If this war ever ends, and finds such scoundrels as Gurley alive, let him atone at the end of the halter for his fiendish cruelties. The following order, issued by General Rousseau immediately after the death of Colonel McCook, explains itself: HEAD-QUARTERS, THIRD DIVISION, Huntsville, Ala., August 8th, 1862. Special Orders, No. 54.-Almost every day murders are committed by lawless bands of robbers and mur derers, firing into railroad trains. To prevent this, or to let the guilty suffer with the innocent, it is ordered that the preachers and leading men of the churches (not exceeding twelve in number), in and about Huntsville, who have been active Secessionists, be arrested and kept in custody, and that one of them be detailed each day, and placed on board the train on the road running by way of Athens, and taken to Elk river and back, ir charge of a trusty soldier, who shall be armed, and no allow him to communicate with any person. When not on duty, these gentlemen shall be comfort ably quartered in Huntsville, but not allowed to communicate with any one, without leave from these Headquarters. The soldiers detailed for guard of this charac ter will report to these Head-quarters for further instruc tions, upon the day preceding their tour of duty, at three o'clock P. M. By command of F. J. JONES, A. A. A. G. LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU, Who would ever have thought that it would have been necessary to issue such an order in this free and fair land of ours, and among those whom we supposed to be a civilized and intelligent people? Yours, &c. D. H. BINGHAM. FIRING ON A HOSPITAL-BOAT. IN the early part of July, 1863, as the hospital-boats belonging to General Curtis's command were passing down the Mississippi river, they were fired upon by a party of guerrillas upon the bank, who kept following it as they floated slowly down the river, discharging volley after volley upon the sick, wounded, and defenceless men who lay exposed to their murderous fire, expecting every minute to receive a fatal shot. The officer in charge of the boat shouted to them to stop, that it was a hospital-boat, and pointed to the yellow flag above him. They paid no attention to his appeal, but continued to fire, wounding a great many of the already sick and wounded. A captain on board was wounded seriously while pleading with them to stop. This outrage was continued until one of the Union gunboats came to their assistance. The gunboat fired a few well-directed shots at the cowardly miscreants, which caused them to decamp faster than they had followed the boat. Thus ended the tragedy. The guerillas were commanded by a man who wore the uniform of a Confederate captain, but called himself a guerrilla, to vindicate the government whose orders he was carrying out.* ASSAULT ON THE FAMILY OF MR. JOHN YOUNG, AND HEROIC CONDUCT OF HIS DAUGHTERS. EARLY in the progress of the rebellion, it was seen to be the policy of the leaders to overrun Tennessee with * From Dr. W. H. D. Williamson, of Southern Arkansas. an armed force drawn from Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, under pretence of drilling the soldiers, and protecting the citizens from depredations. The real purpose of the treacherous crew was to consume and destroy the available resources of the country, and to disarm its inhabitants of every means of defence. Robbery was their great aim; and cruelty and oppression were the means by which they proposed to torture the peaceful inhabitants into submission. Every movement of the people was met with demonstrations calculated to excite terror and dismay; every sentiment of attachment to the Union or the flag, was sought to be suppressed by the force of the bowie-knife and the bayonet. Violence was the order of the day, "Exterminate the Union men!" the watchword of the hour, with these marauding, murderous bands. One of these ruffian bands was stationed in Fentress county, Tennessee, a short distance from. the residence of Mr. John Young, who was known to be a Union man, and one of the best citizens of the country. His course had been such as to win the esteem of the virtuous in his vicinity. Retiring, industrious, unobtrusive, and correct in his deportment, he was just such an individual as those miscreants deemed it necessary to visit with their deepest vengeance. His influence and example, they thought, might damage the rebel cause, and rebel wickedness might labor under restraint extremely disagreeable to the rebel leaders in their deep guilt of treason and blood. Mr. Young was compelled to lie out in the woods and from his family, to avoid imminent danger of being arrested, and hung, or murdered in some other way. One evening, at twilight, a large rough soldier came to the dwelling where Mr. Young's family still resided, with pistol in hand, and a bowie-knife in his bosom. He told Mrs. Young that he wanted lodging for the night. The lady remarked, having two grown daughters with her, that she was not in the habit of entertaining soldiers in the absence of her husband. The ruffian replied, that "By G-d he had come to stay, and he was going to stay, whether it suited her or not!" Mrs. Young then said, "If you are determined to stay, why ask me anything about it?" And turning to one of her daughters, standing near, she directed her to go up-stairs and prepare a bed for the man. The daughter hastened up-stairs, and the soldier took his weapons in his hands and followed her. When he reached the room, he motioned the young lady to take one of the beds. She said "No." He said "He would see to that!" and ad vanced toward her. She, being a stout, vigorous woman, as he came to her, grasped him firmly by both his arms and screamed for help. Her sister, Miss Mary Young, who was still below, seized an axe which happened to be near and ran up to the rescue. Here she found her sister struggling with the infamous wretch, and still holding him with a firm grasp. This sister made one stroke at his head with the axe, and its keen edge fell just where the vertebræ join the neck. The blow was as fatal as it was fortunate. It nearly severed the head from the body. The villain fell instantly on the floor, weltering in blood. Such was the recompense of brutal villany! Vengeance was swift and sure.* *General J. B. Rodgers. |