Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/114

Ohio, 21 July, 1863. He was the son of George McCook, an Irishman of Scotch descent, who was concerned in movements of the "United Irishmen" about 1780, and on their failure fled to the United States. Daniel was educated at Jefferson college and removed to New Lisbon, and then to Carrollton, Ohio. At the beginning of the civil war, although sixty-three years of age, he offered his services to the government, was commissioned major, and fell mortally wounded while leading an advance party to oppose and intercept Gen. John Morgan in his raid. His wife. Martha Latimer, b. in Washington, Pa., 8 March, 1802: d. in New Lisbon, Ohio, 10 Nov., 1879, was married in 1818. Her courage and intelligence greatly influenced their ten sons who were in the National army.—Daniel's brother, John, physician, b. in Canonsburg, Pa., 21 Feb., 1806: d. in Washington, D. C., 11 Oct., 1865, was educated at Jefferson college and graduated in the Medical school of Cincinnati. He practised medicine for many years in New Lisbon, and afterward in Steubenville, Ohio, and during the civil war served for a time as a volunteer surgeon. He died at the headquarters of his son, Gen. Anson G. McCook, in Washington, D. C., during a visit. His wife, Catherine Julia Sheldon, b. in Hartford, Conn., 21 May, 1807; d. in Steubenville, Ohio, 11 March, 1865, was noted for her gift of song. His five sons enlisted in the National army. These two families have been called the "fighting McCooks," and are familiarly distinguished as the "tribe of Dan" and the "tribe of John."—Daniel's son, George Wythe, lawyer, b. in Canonsburg, Pa., 21 Nov., 1821; d. in Steubenville. Ohio, 28 Dec, 1877, was graduated at Ohio university, studied law with Edwin M. Stanton, and afterward became his partner. He served as an officer in the 3d Ohio regiment throughout the Mexican war, and returned as its commander. He was one of the first four brigadier-generals selected by the governor of Ohio to command the troops from that state in the civil war, but, owing to impaired health from his Mexican service, was prevented from accepting that post. He organized and commanded for short periods several Ohio regiments. In 1871 he was the Democratic candidate for governor of the state. He was at one time attorney-general of the state and edited the first volume of "Ohio State Reports."—Another son, Robert Latimer, soldier, b. in New Lisbon, Ohio, 28 Dec., 1827; d. near Salem, Ala., 6 Aug., 1862, studied law and removed to Cincinnati, where he secured a large practice. He organized the 9th Ohio regiment in 1861, became its colonel, and commanded a brigade in the West Virginia campaign under McClellan. His brigade was then transferred to the Army of the Ohio, and took an active part in the battle of Mill Spring, Ky., 19 Jan., 1862, where he was severely wounded. The Confederate forces were driven from their lines by a bayonet charge of McCook's brigade, and so closely pursued that their organization was destroyed. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, 21 March, 1862, rejoined his command before his wound had healed, and was shot by Confederate guerillas while lying helpless in an ambulance.—Another son, Alexander McDowell, soldier, b. in Columbiana, county, Ohio, 22 April, 1831, was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1852, and assigned to the 3d infantry. After a brief service in garrison he was engaged against the Apaches in New Mexico until 1857, and from 12 Feb., 1858, till 24 April, 1861, was assistant instructor of infantry tactics at West Point. On 6 Dec., 1858, he became 1st lieutenant. At the beginning of the civil war he was appointed colonel of the 1st Ohio regiment, and in April, 1861, he was mustering and disbursing officer at Columbus, Ohio. He commanded his regiment at the first battle of Bull Run, and for his services there was brevetted major. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers on 3 Sept., 1861, and commanded a division of the Army of the Ohio in the Tennessee and Mississippi campaign. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel at the capture of Nashville, 3 March, 1862, and colonel
on 7 April, 1862, for services at Shiloh. On 17 July, 1862, he became major-general of volunteers and was placed in command of the 20th army corps, with which he served during the campaigns of Perryville, Stone River, Tullahoma, and Chickamauga. He engaged in the defence of Washington on 11 and 12 July, 1864, was in the middle military division from November, 1864, till February, 1865, and in command of eastern Arkansas from February till May of the latter year. He received the brevet of brigadier-general, U. S. army, on 13 March, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at Perrysville, Ky., and also on the same date that of major-general, U. S. army, for services in the field during the war. He investigated Indian affairs with a joint committee of congress from May till October, 1865, and at the close of the war was made lieutenant-colonel of the 26th infantry. In 1880 he became colonel of the 6th infantry; in 1890, brigadier-general; in 1894, major-general; and he was retired in 1895. He was active in the volunteer reserve movement of 1898.—Another son, Daniel, soldier, b. in Carrollton, Ohio, 22 July, 1834; d. near Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., 21 July, 1864, was graduated at Alabama university, Florence, Ala., in 1858, studied law in Steubenville, Ohio, and, after admission to the bar, removed to Leavenworth, Kan., where he formed a partnership with William T. Sherman and Thomas Ewing. When the civil war began the office was closed, and all of the partners soon became general officers. Mr. McCook was captain of a local company, with which he volunteered, and as part of the 1st Kansas regiment served under Gen. Nathaniel Lyon at Wilson's Creek. Subsequently he was chief of staff of the 1st division of the Army of the Ohio in the Shiloh campaign, and became colonel of the 52d Ohio infantry in the summer of 1862. He was at once assigned to the command of a brigade under Gen. William T. Sherman, and continued to serve with the Army of the Cumberland. He was selected by Gen. Sherman to lead the assault that was made on Kenesaw Mountain in July, 1864, and took his brigade directly up to the Confederate works. Just before the assault he calmly recited to his men the stanza from Macaulay's poem of "Horatius" beginning "Then how may man die better than facing fearful odds?" He had reached the top of the enemy's works, and was encouraging his men to follow him, when he was fatally wounded. For the courage that he displayed in this assault he was