Colonel Robert L. McCook at Mill Springs

Colonel Robert L. McCook of the 9th Ohio Infantry was wounded in the right leg during the Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky on January 19, 1862. Writing from a hospital bed at Camp Hamilton, Kentucky two days afterwards, one of his first tasks was to notify Gustavus Tafel back in Cincinnati that his brother Hugo had been killed in the Battle of Mill Springs. He also explained how he came to be wounded.

“My horse received three wounds from shots: one ball passed through my overcoat and the fifth struck me in the leg. I received a severe wound in the leg below the knee. I hope the leg is but slightly injured. You will see from this that we were in the midst of a fiery shower of balls. Had I left the field immediately it would perhaps been better for me. I remained in the field, however, and pursued the enemy at the head of my brigade a distance of twelve miles, of which I was compelled to make three miles on foot in an ankle-deep morass,” McCook wrote.

          McCook’s wound would take months to heal. It would be mid-summer before he returned to his regiment and even then he was not fully recovered. His time back with the 9th Ohio would be cut short when he was mortally wounded on August 5, 1862, in northern Alabama and died the following day. Originally published in the German language newspaper the Cincinnati Volksblatt, it was picked up and re-printed by the Cadiz Democratic Sentinel in their January 29, 1862, edition.

 

This bust monument of Colonel Robert L. McCook of the 9th Ohio was erected in Washington Park in Cincinnati by the survivors of that regiment in 1878. 

Camp Hamilton, Kentucky

January 21, 1862

To Gustavus Tafel, dear friend,

          It is my painful duty to communicate to you that your brother Hugo who was shot in the battle which took place on Sunday last and died at 10 o’clock the same night. He fought like a man and soldier who is worthy of his name, his country, and regiment. Gustavus, you have through this death lost an affectionate brother and a good man. You should rejoice that he who fell was your brother. It is needless to tell you that we all regret the loss of your brother and that we sympathize with you and your family. This is doubtless slight consolation to you.

          Your brother was shot in the lower portion of the chest and he suffered great pain. It was impossible to preserve his body; he bled inwardly and we were compelled to bury him. His corpse lies in a splendid place where we have also buried the others who fell. A befitting monument will mark the spot where lie his mortal remains.

Col. Robert L. McCook
9th O.V.I. 

          Now the battle itself. Had you seen how our boys attacked the Mississippi Tigers with the bayonet and put them to flight, you would feel proud that you were a member of this regiment. Captain Joseph was wounded in the fleshy portion of his leg. Lieutenant Burt, one of my adjutants, was also wounded. My horse received three wounds from shots: one ball passed through my overcoat and the fifth struck me in the leg. I received a severe wound in the leg below the knee. I hope the leg is but slightly injured. You will see from this that we were in the midst of a fiery shower of balls.

Had I left the field immediately it would perhaps been better for me. I remained in the field, however, and pursued the enemy at the head of my brigade a distance of twelve miles, of which I was compelled to make three miles on foot in an ankle-deep morass. We pursued and drove the enemy behind his entrenchments and captured about 100 field tents, 150 wagons, 12 cannons, 1,000 horses and mules, and a mass of arms and ammunition. You can scarcely form any idea of the extent of his entrenchments. We killed a large number of the enemy. Many of them still lie dead upon the battlefield. Zollicoffer is dead.

Respects to Stallo and Henry,

Your friend,

Robert L. McCook

Source:

Letter from Colonel Robert Latimer McCook, 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Cadiz Democratic Sentinel (Ohio), January 29, 1862, pg. 2

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