THE FIGHTING McCOOKS

An Address delivered by Dr. A.M. Reid

August 29, 1906

Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County C2000 FORWARD

Dr. A.M. Reid was an educator who felt that Steubenville should have a public library. In 1899, Dr. Reid wrote to Mr. Andrew Carnegie in Scotland And asked that a grant be made to Steubenville for A library.

Due to this connection, Dr. Reid gave the library A copy of the speech he delivered in 1906 regarding The "Fighting McCooks" of Carrollton and Steubenville. The family is famous for its members who served the United States in the military during the Civil War.

This is a copy of the notes from that speech.

April, 2000 1

THE FIGHTING McCOOKS

An address delivered by Dr. A.M. Reid

Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen:

It has been said that some of us are disposed to boast of our State. Especially has this charge been made against the Ohio Society of New York? But when you come to think of it we have some ground for boasting not so much on account of our fertile acres and the cattle upon a thousand hills as because of the great men we have given to the country and the world. Who have this country and the world all the Presidents of the United States but two in the last forty years? Ohio. It does your heart good just to repeat their honored names. Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, McKinley, all good and honored names. And it is more than twice as many as all the rest of the States put together during that period.

Then adding William Henry Harrison we have a splendid bead roll of fame, six Presidents from a state little more than a hundred years old. And what state furnished the Great War Secretary, Stanton, to manage the forces, in our great Civil War, and the great Secretary of the Treasury, Chase, to manage the finances, the sinews of War? Ohio. And what State furnished the three greatest Generals of the War, Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, who fought our battles and saved our country when its life trembled in the balance? Ohio. And Ohio sent with them to the War 310,000 brave soldiers.

It has been said half playfully and yet more than half truthfully, that Ohio saves the other states the trouble of raising Presidents, Generals and Members of the Supreme Court.

And few things have conferred greater distinction upon our State than the Fighting McCooks. As so high an authority as Harper's Encyclopedia of the United States History, is in error, making General Alexander McDowell McCook and General Anson G. McCook brothers, it may be well to give a correct list of the two families of which the Fighting McCooks were composed, designating the rank to which they attained and giving certain striking incidents, in the lives of 2

some of them. And first the sons of Major Daniel McCook, who was long known before the war, as the Supt. of the Presbyterian Sunday School in Carrollton, honored and loved by old and young.

I name them in regular order: Surgeon Latimer A., General George W., Major General Robert L., Major General A. McDowell, General Daniel Jr., Major General Edwin Stanton, Private Charles Morris, Col. John J., Midshipman John J., the third son died in the Naval Service before the Rebellion. Ten in all, all officers but one, three attaining to the high rank of Major General. We may safely challenge the whole country to produce such family record in the annuals of the War.

Let the noble Mother of these noble sons give some incidents which will at once show her sons' bravery and her own sorrows and tribulations. Mrs. McCook, a fine Christian spirit who had the daily beauty in her life, as well as an ardent lover of her country, was for many years a good friend of ours. And sometimes in the dark hour she would come to talk with my wife of her crushing bereavements, seeking from us a little comfort and sympathy when her trials seemed almost more than she was able to bear.

I remember the first day she came, her eyes red with weeping, and her heart almost bursting with anguish, and she said "my son Charles is killed. He said he would not surrender to a rebel and them shot him on the spot."

For those of you who are familiar with the history of the war, we remember that Charles was a college boy of less than eighteen, had left his regiment to speak to his father who was engaged in hospital work. Before rejoining his regiment he was surrounded by some Rebel Black Horse troopers who demanded his surrender. His father seeing his hopeless situation called to him to surrender. But he called back, "Father I will never surrender to a rebel" and fighting the rebels, like a tiger, with gun and bayonet he was soon overcome by the troopers and shot dead.

His venerable father, who saw him killed, had to carry his lifeless body from the field. One thinks of Old Priam taking up the body of his son, the brave Hector, slain by Achilles, on the field of Troy.

Another time the dear Mother came and said "My son Robert is killed." The rebels shot him, though he was wounded and being taken away in an ambulance." This was the one that was often spoken of as the Brave Gen. Bob McCook with his bully Dutch. He had a German regiment who were always in the thickest of the fight.

Another time the good mother came and said, "My son Daniel was is killed. He was shot on the field of battle." It was Daniel who was in the Law Firm with General Sherman and Thomas Ewing before the war. General Sherman had 3

selected him to lead the assault on Kennesaw Mountain. Apparently having a premonition that death was nigh; General McCook recited to his men just before the assault Macaulay's fine lines, from Hortius.

"Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the gate, To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods. For the tender Mother, Who dangled him to rest And for the wife that nurses, His baby at her breast.

Then, at his word, they dashed forward. He himself leading on and encouraging his men to follow, had reached the top of the enemy's ranks, when he was pierced by a dozen Minnie balls and fell back fatally wounded, to survive but a few days.

One thinks of Arnold Winkelried taking to his breast an armful of spears and breaking the enemy's line.

"Make way for liberty he cried Made way for liberty and died."

Another time Mrs. McCook came and said, "My husband is killed." He was past the age of enlisting and need not have gone to the war. But he was patriotic and he put himself at the head of some troops to intercept Morgan who was invading our State and he was killed by the Confederates at Buffington Island. I love my country and am glad to give my sons to her service but it is hard to part with so many of them and with my husband forever, for human hearts will bleed, when loved ones are taken away, however devoted to our country we may be.

We think of Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, or of Niobe mourning for her children slain. This my friends is one of the most awful results of war, the unutterable sorrow and anguish it brings to the innocent, to mothers and wives, to sisters and sweethearts and children. These aspects of war and others even worse, made General Sherman say, "War is hell." Yet we do honor, in our heart of hearts, the brave men, who when the awful necessity comes, offer lives a willing sacrifice to save the life of their country.

Col. John J. McCook who made a brilliant record in the War and who is now a distinguished member of the bar in New York and President of the Ohio Society 4 in New York is the only surviving member of this branch of the Fighting McCooks.

It is perhaps not betraying any secret to say that he had the high honor of being offered a place in the Cabinet of President McKinley. But the portfolio, not suiting his tastes he thought best to decline the honor. Bit in his presence we may not say all that we might. And we are to have the great pleasure of hearing something from his own lips tonight.

The other family of the Fighting McCooks consisted of Dr. John McCook and his sons. Dr. John McCook like his brother, was for years Superintendent of a Sunday School. It was in the First Presbyterian Church of Steubenville under the beloved Dr. Comingo. In the summer of 1860 when the war was brewing Dr. Comingo himself used to practice shooting, behind his church, for he declared that if war broke out he was going down South to shoot rebels.

Though a Kentuckian, he was loyal to the core.

Dr. McCook's family of the Fighting McCooks consisted of five sons, manely, Major General Edward M., General Anson G., Lieutenant and Captain Henry C., Commander Roderick S. of the Navy, and Lieut. John J. five in all-and all officers one having reached the high position of Major General and one of Brigadier General. The Mother of this branch of the family was a brilliant and accomplished woman, and her influence had much to do in molding the Character of her Sons.

Maj. General Edward McCook's most splendid service, perhaps which was very different and very dangerous, was his penetrating the enemy's lines and opening the way for Sherman's March from Atlanta to the Sea. He was ready for any daring feat and nothing seemed too hard for him to accomplish.

Many of us here know Brig. General Anson G. McCook very well. We remember when he raised here one of the first companies of Ohio and when Mrs. Beatty passed along the ranks giving each of his men a little Testament. I have heard of the life of at least one man in the Company being saved by having that little Testament in his boson which stopped a bullet which was coming straight for his heart.

Let us hope that Mrs. Beatty's little Testament saved his soul as well as his body.

Capt. Anson soon rose to Major, then to Col., then to General. He was in the thick of the fight in some awful battles. Perrysville, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge & others. After the war he was six years in Congress and for many years held the high and honorable position of Secretary of the United States Senate. Few men have more living and loyal friends than General Anson G. McCook. 5

Lieutenant Henry McCook, when the War began, stumped the neighborhood, where he was, to raise troops, and was soon made 1st Lieut. Of the 41st Ill. Reg. Being a student of Theology then, he came home and our Steubenville Presbytery ordained him to the full work of the Ministry.

He soon felt a call, which he could not resist, to give his whole time to preaching the gospel. After a few years in the West he was called to the great Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1869, where as pastor, preacher & author he has been one of the most prominent ministers in the Presbyterian Church, for about 37 years. After the Spanish War President McKinley appointed him to go to Cuba to put up headstones over our Soldiers who had fallen there.

Here he contracted a malarial fever, which seriously impaired his health, and he has now largely retired from the active work of the Ministry. Dr. Henry C. McCook has probably obtained a higher position in Literature and Science than any other member of either branch of the family.

His great story "The Latimers" a historical novel dealing with the Whiskey insurrection in Western Pennsylvania, is regarded as one of the very best of the decade in which it appeared. He has written books on Theological subjects and on Entomology and he on either side of the ocean is probably known more about ants and bees and spiders than any other man now living. He once corrected the Westminister Review of London, that had asserted that Solomon must have known little about Science, as he had spoken of ants laying up stores for the winter, when there were no such ants and never were. Later they had the grace to acknowledge that they were mistaken in what they had said about Solomon's ants as Dr. McCook, a clergyman of Philadelphia, had convinced them that they were wrong in their statement, he himself having seen and described such ants.

Commander Roderick McCook, the 4 th brother entered the Navy. His first service was helping to bring home a Captured Slave from Africa in 1859. Then he took part in active operations against Wilmington, Charleston & other ports in the Civil War. And at Newberne he and his Marines took part in the battle on land, and strange to say, he a Naval Commander, had the honor of receiving the surrender of a Confederate Regiment of Infantry.

The 5th son of this family was Lieut. John James McCook. He served as Lieut. In the first Virginia volunteers. Like his brother Henry he was called away from the war by a higher call to the Ministry. He too was a writer of note. His articles on "Tramps" brought him into much notice and he is the author of a witty little book "Pat and the Council."

He has long been an honored Professor in Trinity College Hartford, and we are likely to get other good things from his pen. 6

The last one whom I shall name and of whom I shall be expected to give a fuller appreciation and estimate is our friend General George W. McCook of the first named family, whose portrait, an excellent likeness, our talented artist Mr. Filson has given to the Bar of our City. You can see that he was a very handsome man. In form and feature, he was very unlike Gen. Sheridan, whom Lincoln described as "a little chap, with round head, round face, and not enough neck to hang him by."

Col. McCook as we usually called him, showed his metal as a soldier in the Mexican War and in our Civil War, but as this record is in the Chronicles of our State (and as it has been touched upon by others). I shall speak of other aspects of this noble man.

He was a splendid lawyer, the pupil first and then the partner of Edwin M. Stanton. About 60 years ago there was at this bar a trio of remarkable lawyers, Stanton, McCook, and Moody. Stanton with his Condensed Arguments, launched like thunderbolts, reminded you of Demosthenes. McCook with his fullness of information and splendid eloquence made you think of Cicero, and Moody with his keen metaphysical mind, sometimes seeing a bearing of testimony, which neither Stanton nor McCook had perceived reminded you rather of John C. Calhoun.

They were, indeed three shining lights at this bar.

Col. McCook believed in the strict and prompt enforcement of law. When I made an address here, at the dedication of this Court House, I expressed the hope that in the administration of law here, justice should be mingled with mercy, quoting Shakespeare, "And earthly power doth show likest Gods." When Mercy Seasons justice. Consider this.

"That in the course of justice none of us should see salvation."

The Col. In the way of friendly criticism at the close of the meeting, said to me, "That doctrine will not do in Courts of Justice. What we need is more strict and prompt enforcement of justice and law. This is what we need to protect the good and deter the bad from crime, and make life safer and better for us all." And he was probably right. At least I have since come to his way of thinking. I find that too many rascals go untouched of justice.

As a Democrat Col. McCook stood high in the councils of his party, both in the State and in the Nation. He was elected Attorney General of our State by the great majority of 52,000. When Seymore was taken up for the presidency, Col. McCook was selected to make the nominating speech in the National Convention. And it is the custom to select for that purpose one of the ablest and eloquent men in the party. He was offered the nomination of Vice President to run as the mate of Seymore but absolutely refused the proffered honor. 7

But I prefer to speak of Col. McCook as a man and a citizen. He was a splendid specimen of a man, in presence, form and being. As he passed through our streets, you felt there goes a real man. Strangers often turned to take a second look at him.

He was one of our most public-spirited citizens, ready to help liberally in all good works. Then our 2nd Presbyterian Church, with which he was connected, was built his contribution was $ 5,000.

He was kind to the poor and sympathized with the laboring man in his hard toils. I remember once, when he had much to do with the coal shaft mines, at the mead of Market Street, he told me, that although the owners were not making a cent, they kept the men digging because they needed the wages to make their families comfortable.

He was a man of wide reading and fine literary culture. Once when he and Dr. Beatty and I were driving to Canonsburg to Commencement we chanced to be speaking of the best bit of satire in Literature, the Col. At once recited, in fine style, Pope's keen lines on Addison veiled under the name of Atticus.

"Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Bear, like the Turk, no brother near, the throne, Damn with faint praise assent with Civil leer, And without sneering teach the rest to sneer. Like Cato give his little senate laws, And sit attentive to his own applause, Who but must laugh, if such a man there be? Who would not weep if, Atticus were be?"

I can hear his musical voice ringing out those words yet as we passed through the woods near the little Village of Venice. And, indeed, the ability to quote good poetry is one of the highest marks of Literary Culture.

In the Gazette's account of the funeral it is written "Dr. Reid read a number of impressive selections from the bible remarking that Col. McCook very frequently read the Book of Books, and derived much comfort from it."

I had forgotten about this, as it is nearly thirty years ago, but I am sure our friend with his type of culture and spirit and character would appreciate the great poetry of Job and the great and holy thoughts of the Book. The Herald states that his funeral was probably the largest that was ever in our city. The streets were crowded as we went to the Cemetery.

He was a man of a high sense of honor, truth and integrity. You felt that his word was as good as his bond. 8

As a husband and father he was affectionate, kind and considerate. As a son his devotion to his venerable mother was beautiful to behold. He gave his children the best opportunities for education, both at home and abroad. He was much "given to hospitality."

He sympathized with young people and loved to add to their happiness. An extract from a letter, which I received a few days ago, will illustrate this characteristic. It reads thus:

"I loved Col. McCook. My heart swells now as I think of all his goodness to me, a poor forlorn little home-sick girl in Paris. He had such a great, big, generous heart and was always lending a helping hand to some one. I can see him now in that little Salon of Mademoiselle Lalande, a great big specimen of manhood. He seemed to fill the little place full to running over." One thinks of Macaulay spending thought and time and money trying to make his sister's children happy.

In various ways, Col. McCook has left the stamp of his personality on our City. Under his graceful and courteous manners, it was always easy to discern the reliable, noble character of the man, combining in himself a warm loving heart, high intellectual ability, and sterling worth.

"He was a man, taken for all in all. We shall not soon look upon his life again." In this paper at the suggestion of your Committee, I have used freely the personal note and its seems natural. As one speaks of old friends, true and tried.

I have referred also, incidentally, to the sorrows and horrors of war, especially to the anguish it brings to mothers, wives and children. We honor from our heart of hearts, with deep emotion, The Fighting McCooks and others who are offered their lives to save the life of our Country, but when we remember about a million lives, the flower of our Country, and that the cost of our Civil War was about ten thousand million dollars and a hundred million sighs and tears, will not all good men and women labor and pray that the time predicted by the prophet may speedily come when men "shall learn war no more?"

And friends and fellow citizens, that glad morning cometh. A star in the east is even now hovering over the Palace of the Hague and are long we shall hear again the voice sounding out over the World "peace on earth and good will to men" - Universal peace with arbitration for the nations, instead of bloody war.

"And man to man the world o'er, Shall brothers be and a' that."

Then the white dove ofthe peace shall be fitting emblem of the Nations instead of Mars, the god of war, steeped to the neck in blood. 9

And when that day of peace for all the Nations of the earth shall come, may it stay with us.

"Till the sun grows cold, And the stars are old, And the leaves of judgement-Book unfold."

[Handwritten at the end of the text]

To my dear Friend, Hetty McCook whom I love nearly as much as I do the other Hetty. Your father and his mother were two of the best friends Mrs. Reid and I ever had in this world. I wish what I have said were noteworthy of them both. But I had too large a subject to do justice and to all the Fighting McCooks many of whom next to your father I hold most dear your honored husband Gen. Anson McCook.

With affectionate regards, Your very true and affectionate friend A.M. Reid August 29, 1906