Greensborough Patriot
November 6, 1862
Page 1
From the Richmond Inquirer
Col. John R. Cooke, 27th
N. C.T.
In a tribute which
a correspondent pays in to-day’s paper to Colonel Cooke, of North Carolina, an
incident is referred to as transpiring in the battle of Sharpsburg, of which we
have heard from another source, but more in detail. Occupying a very perilous but very important
position, Colonel Cooke received orders from several of his superiors that it
was necessary for him to hold it at all hazards. He returned answer, that he would do so, with
increasing emphasis to each successive message, until the final one, he made
the reply stated by our correspondent, to the effect that he would hold it while
he had a man that could stand up. His
noble North Carolinians, in full accord with the heroism of their commander,
were so delighted with his answer, that in the midst of the furies of the
battle with the missiles of death bailing around them, they paused to give
three cheers to their Colonel, and gave them with a will! They then addressed themselves to their work
again and proceeded to make his promise good.
Let the commander be praised, and let his soldiers receive also their
due honor. To applaud a sentiment which
devoted them to death, and to do it amid the roar of battle and when their
ranks had already been sadly thinned, this, indeed, was heroism!
To
the Editors of the Inquirer:
Bunker
Hill, Oct. 10th, 1862
Gentlemen:
As a tribute to modest merit, permit me to record the brilliant conduct of
Colonel John R. Cooke, of the 27th North Carolina Regiment, in the
terrible battle of Sharpsburg. Col.
Cooke was in command of his own Regiment, the 27th N. C., and the 3rd
Arkansas, of Walker’s Brigade. His
command was exposed to a terrific fire of smaoll arms, and an enfilading fire
from a section of artillery. The force
opposed to him was overwhelming, as to numbers, but he gave the order to
charge, and, cutting his way through the enemy’s line found himself in the rear
of four strong regiments. Instantly he
wheeled his command and dashed at the enemy, annihilating a New York
regiment—the 44th, I think—and scattering the others like chaff on
the threshing floor. In this dash he
captured also the section of artillery.
The quick eye of Col. Cooke discovered a position which, if occupied,
would enable him to hold in check a greatly superior force. He instantly occupied it, but his ammunition
had been exhausted in the unequal and protracted struggle, yet he determined to
hold it. Gen’l Longstreet dispatched a
request to Col. Cooke to hold on until relieved, if possible. Col. Cooke’s gallant reply was, “tell Gen’l
Longstreet that I am out of ammunition, but I will hold this position as long
as one man can stand on his legs.” He
did hold it for four mortal hours. The
cool and intrepid bearing of Col. Cooke on the battle field and his high
soldierly qualities are the subjects of general praise in the corps to which he
is attached, and so marked were these qualities that Generals D. H. Hill and
Longstreet took him by the hand, and complimented him on the battle field.
Col.
Cooke’s skill and daring, as a leader, are only equalled by his modesty. A thorough soldier, a West Point graduate,
and an officer in the U. S. Army until the South threw her banner to the
breeze—he is in dash the equal of his
brother-in-law, Major General Stuart, and his military talent and cool
intrepidity entitle him to that promotion which is said he will speedily
receive.
--ARMY—
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]
