Colonel McCreary

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The Gallant McCreary

Bennett H. Young's speech

Bennett H. Young, Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, spoke this about McCreary , "On the Fourth of July 1863, at the very beginning of Morgan's Ohio raid, the battle of Green River occurred. The 11th KY Cav bore the brunt of that conflict. Col Moore, of a Union [25th MICH Inf] regiment , was in charge of a stockade at that point. General Morgan had easy sailing from where where he had crossed the Cumberland river to this place. A demand for surrender was me t with the response that 'the Fourth of July was a bad day to ask a Union soldier to surrender, and that if General Morgan wanted him he would have to come and get him'. "An assault was immediately ordered. It was met with determined resistance, and in the end with a deadly repulse. While standing by Col. Chenault that officer was shot through the head and fell dead at Major McCreary's feet.

Assuming command of the regiment, Maj. McCreary passed along the line to designate Captain Treble as his second in command; and as the order was issued and Treble waved his hand in acknowledgment of the promotion, he too was shot down at McCreary's side. A second Captain was killed in like manner. Maj. Theophilus Steele rode up to learn what were the conditions, and his horse was killed as he leaned over to hear the report from the gallant McCreary. On that day no man ever acted with calmer courage or handled a regiment with more skill and bravery. And he won the admiration and respect of all his command by hi s splendid bearing..." "You will remember that all of Morgan's officers who were captured in the Ohio raid were confined for some months in the Ohio penitentiary. Amoung these was Lt. Col. James Bennett McCreary.

From this prison General Morgan and some of his companions escap ed by tunneling into an air shaft and sewer. To escape became the highest hope and ambition of those prisoners. Col. McCreary had concealed $100 in gold in the seams of his clothing. With part of this he had induced a Federal soldier to sell him a long knife. [With another prisoner] It was agreed that McCreary with the knife should grapple the guard, overpower him, then the two escape to Canada." "The fact that McCreary had a knife was in some way betrayed to the warden of the penitentiary. He demanded its production, and the prisoner refused its surrender. He was thoroughly examined for its presence and threatened with the dungeon if it w as not given up. Search was in vain, but finally a detective advised ripping open the mattress in the cell and the knife was discovered.

The thermometer was then below zero. Col McCreary was hurried into a dark, dismal dungeon, with no furniture, no bed [this was an air tight metal clad cell that was either very hot in summer or very cold in winter, there was so little air, that it was reported that not even a match would burn in the very bottom of the dungeon . [McCreary reported that the air was filled with fumes of carbonic acid]. Without food or water, he was kept in this horrible place for thirty-six hours, and then the name of the person who had given him the knife was again demanded. This was positively refused." 'You may kill me or freeze me or starve me, but I will not betray the man who gave me the knife', was the courageous response of this young Kentuckian. He was returned to the dungeon, where he could keep from dying with cold only by walking across the floor of his cell for two days and nights. In awful isolation, in the terrifying darkness, tortured with hunger and burning thirst, the only relief that came to the dreadfulness of the place was one tin cup of water and a slice of bread handed in through a small opening of the door.

Death seemed near at hand, but [on the third day] another demand for the name of the man who had given him the knife was met with a calm and determined refussal. [Numb with cold, practically unable to speak, McCreary's limbs were now stiff with cold. His jaws had lost their power to move, and after hours he sank down helpless on the limestone floor. Soon he became unconscious.] After an awful experience for many hours, the surgeon of the penitentiary passed in front of the dungeon. He heard the moaning of what he believed to be a struggling, dying human being. He demanded the door opened, removed the unconscious soldier to the hospital, and by humane and merciful attendance saved his life."[ The federal surgeon outspokenly protested against this merciless behavior of the guards].

Young continues, "Fellow citizens, a man who courted death rather than betray a Federal soldier who had sold him a knife is incapable of a mean or dishonorable act. If this thing were to happen in the year 1911, the Carnegie medal fund would give him a splendid testimonial and in addition add enough to make him comfortable for the remainder of his life. No man in Kentucky has emerged from as many political conflicts with a better record. He can hold up his hands with a lime light of truth shinning through and through, and not a single dollar in his political life ever stuck to his fingers. He was always kind and courteous and true to his party and to his principles. He never politically did anything of which a Kentuckian need be ashamed."

"I was eight years old when I made my first shot and I still consider it one of the best shots I ever made." ~Annie Oakley~