Colonel Dan McCook, jr

[Stiles/Akin]

One of the bravest of men. Union Colonel Dan McCook, jr. Before leading his men forward up the long grassy slope at Cheatham Hill, on June 27, 1864, he stepped in front of his men. Fully realizing the desperate nature of assaulting a heavily entrenched enemy, he said in a loud, clear voice, quoting Macaulay: "Then out spake brave Horatius, the Captain of the Gate, to every man upon the 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?" McCook then led his men forward, grasping the national colors, all the way to the very top of the Confederate entrenchments, where he fell, riddled with bullets fired from the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment. He was 29 years old.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

The ' Fighting McCooks '. What a staggering family. Used to become confused seeing so many- finally looked them up ( probably here ) years ago. Between them, was it 46 battlefields? Was Daniel their 3rd loss?

 

[Seduzal]

An interesting story! Thanks for sharing.