The passing of McCook’s Civil War soldiers

The war between the north and south was the bloodiest war the United States ever fought as far as loss of life. The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle of the war according to historical records.

Commanders of the War, George McClellan for the Union and Robert E. Lee for the Confederate army, oversaw the engagement of 132,000 soldiers: 87,000 for the North and 45,000 for the South.

In an approximate 36-hour period 22,717 casualties were recorded on the battlefield and despite the overwhelming numbers of the Union Army (nearly double the South), the recorded losses (including killed, wounded, missing or captured) were nearly even: 12,401 from the Union Army and 10, 316 on the Confederate side.

Even though historians tend to agree that neither side really won, since Lee retreated, it was enough for President Lincoln to declare a victory and release his Emancipation Proclamation proposal less than a week later.

One of McCook’s old soldiers, Joseph Brinton, who lived here from 1893 until 1906, fought in the battle of Antietam as a member of Company D, 124th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under the command of Captain Joseph Hawley.

During that battle, Mr. Brinton fought opposite his brother, Caleb, who was on the confederate side. Caleb also survived the battle but lost an arm becoming one of the casualties of that fight. Brinton moved back to the eastern United States for final seven years of his life and was buried in Birmingham, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he had lived as a child.

1913 was a year of loss for McCook’s “Old Soldiers” as those who served in the Civil War were referred to, John Rowland being one such loss. John, who had farmed south of McCook, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, and enlisted in the war with the 53rd Ohio volunteer infantry serving from 1861 through 1864. John left behind a wife, Amanda, and three children when he passed away at the age of 80.

Orland Curtis, a native of New York, had moved to Nebraska in 1882, the same year that McCook was established as a town.

Orland served under three enlistments during the Civil War: 70th regiment of the Illinois infantry in 1862; 132nd regiment of the Illinois infantry in 1864; 151st regiment of the Illinois infantry in 1865. He passed away in McCook at the age of 71 and is buried in Riverview cemetery.

Peter Creager was 82 when he left this world after coming to Red Willow county as a homesteader in 1884. He also served in the Illinois volunteers, Company I, 20th and left behind six sons and one daughter. Interment was in Riverview cemetery.

Having moved to Missouri with his parents at the age of 12, W. S. Hamilton served in the Company C, 21st Missouri volunteers during the war serving from 1861 through 1866. He moved to “McCook” in 1880, two years prior to its existence, and passed away there at the age of 77. Seven children, four of which lived in McCook at the time, and eighteen grandchildren survived him.

Vocanses Franklin, more commonly known as V. Franklin, passed away in McCook at the age of 72 leaving behind a legacy of business interests and involvement in the development of the banking industry of Southwest Nebraska. In 1863, at the age of 22, Franklin enlisted in Company B, 119th Pennsylvania volunteers, serving until the end of the Civil War. Two of his brothers served with him, one of which was killed in battle. Vocanses came to Red Willow County, settling first in Indianola 1879, and moving to McCook in 1882. He bought up the banking interests of J. B. Meserve to establish the Citizens Bank of McCook which he actively managed until his death. His banking acumen extended to holding the controlling interest in both the Bank of Benkelman and Wauneta as well. V. Franklin left behind two married daughters and his wife, Betty (Simpson), and was buried in Riverview cemetery.

McCook has a rich history of service during wartime. These soldiers’ obituaries, plus many more, are available for research at the SWNGS library or on line at www.swngs.org. Our library is open for research on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 PM, weather permitting, 110 West C, Suite M-3.