Lest We Forget
The Fifty-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry was slow in getting organized. In May 1862, Ohio Governor Tod called to his aid Captain Dan McCook, to whom he issued a commission of colonel. The new colonel went to work with alacrity and energy in raising his new command.
At sunrise on Aug. 25, 1862, the 52nd, under orders, left Camp Dennison for Lexington, KY. At Lexington, they joined up with the Fourteenth Army Corps. In September, they moved toward Louisville where they came upon the Rebel Armies of Generals Bragg and Kirby Smith.
In October, they chased the enemy out of Louisville to a little place called Perrysville nestled in the hills where the Rebels took a stand at Peter’s Hill. General Bragg said to his troops: “They are just green troops and can easily be captured.” They made every effort to do so, but were soundly beaten and sent on their way. They continued chasing the enemy through Bowling Green, KY, Nashville, TN, and Athens, Mobile and Stevenson, AL.
During this march, on the morning of Sept. 6, 1862, the command passed the house of the murderer of General Robert L. McCook. Colonel Dan McCook selected a detachment and sent it back with instructions to make the place a desolate waste, leaving only sufficient food and shelter for some half dozen slaves who still clung to the doomed place. The order was literally fulfilled and Colonel Dan McCook had his revenge on this father’s murderer.
They then continued to pursue the enemy into Georgia fighting battle after battle. At Keneesaw Mountain, a terrible struggle ensued where the enemy temporarily hurled back the National Column with a heavy loss of life. Among the severely wounded was Colonel Dan McCook. He was borne from the battlefield and taken to a residence of a kind friend in Cincinnati, OH, where he died of his wounds.
The 52nd continued the fight without its colonel through all the battles up to Atlanta before mustering out. Throughout it all, they maintained a reputation for the utmost discipline, courage and endurance.
Today, our Armed Forces are facing an enemy who has singled out our creed to be the object of their profound contempt. Our fight today - in Iraq and Afghanistan - is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers out to destroy us because of our creed. Our Armed Forces men and women are showing amazing discipline, courage and endurance in this fight. They should never be forgotten. Please remember them this Memorial Day and keep them in our prayers.
Charles R. Pearson
Chaplain
American Legion Post #375
Malvern, OH
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