By far the greatest bully, braggart and brute in the Federal army is Gen. McCook. Whenever he had an opportunity, he proved his claims to these titles. A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, writing from Columbus, Tenn., gives another instance of the brutality of this man :
After our arrival here we learned that the division under Gen. McCook was engaged repairing the bridge lately destroyed by the rebels at Columbia. The first day they commenced work upon the bridge, parties of citizens came down to the river on the opposite side, and hiding themselves, would fire upon his men at work. Gen. McCook sent word to them that if his men were again fired upon, he would immediately commence shelling the town.
On the next morning, shortly after the men commenced work, they were again fired upon. Gen. McCook on being advised of the fact, immediately recalled all, the workmen from the bridge, and ordered the artillery to fall back into position, when he commenced to shell the town, which was continued for two or three hours without intermission, battering down their dwellings, and creating quite a din clatter about their ears. Concluding that they were then taught a lesson, he ordered the firing to cease, and again sent the workmen to the bridge since which time they have not been molested in their labors.
The Semi-Weekly Shreveport News, Shreveport, LA