John Rogers Cooke
Encyclopedia
John Rogers Cooke was a Confederate
general during the American Civil War
. He was the son of Union general Philip St. George Cooke
and the brother-in-law of Confederate cavalry leader Jeb Stuart.
. After studying at the University of Missouri
and Harvard College
, Cooke was commissioned into the United States Army
in 1855 as a second lieutenant of the 8th U.S. Infantry Regiment. On January 28, 1861, Cooke was promoted to second lieutenant. When Virginia seceded from the Union, in 1861 Cooke followed his brother-in-law, Jeb Stuart, south. To his dismay, his father remained loyal to the Union.
in the Confederate Army, and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run
. In April 1862, he was elected colonel
of the 27th North Carolina Infantry. Although, wounded at the Battle of Antietam
, he was able to keep the field and was promoted to brigadier general
on November 1, 1862.
Leading a brigade in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg
, Cooke was badly wounded when a bullet entered over his left eye and fractured his skull. He was able to return to the field in April 1863. In October 1863, while commanding a brigade in A.P. Hill's corps, Cooke was again seriously wounded at the Battle of Bristoe Station
during Hill's attack on the Union II Corps
. His shinbone was shattered and he was knocked out of action for some time. He passed the time by serving on courts of inquiry in Richmond
. Cooke returned to duty but was once again wounded in the leg at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but remained on the field to lead an assault on horseback. Cooke was wounded seven times during the Civil War.
and is buried there in Hollywood Cemetery.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was the son of Union general Philip St. George Cooke
Philip St. George Cooke
Philip St. George Cooke was a career United States Army cavalry officer who served as a Union General in the American Civil War. He is noted for his authorship of an Army cavalry manual, and is sometimes called the "Father of the U.S...
and the brother-in-law of Confederate cavalry leader Jeb Stuart.
Biography
The son of a career army officer, Cooke was born at Jefferson Barracks, MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. After studying at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
and Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, Cooke was commissioned into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1855 as a second lieutenant of the 8th U.S. Infantry Regiment. On January 28, 1861, Cooke was promoted to second lieutenant. When Virginia seceded from the Union, in 1861 Cooke followed his brother-in-law, Jeb Stuart, south. To his dismay, his father remained loyal to the Union.
Civil War
In 1861, Cooke was commissioned a first lieutenantFirst Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the Confederate Army, and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
. In April 1862, he was elected colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 27th North Carolina Infantry. Although, wounded at the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, he was able to keep the field and was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
on November 1, 1862.
Leading a brigade in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, Cooke was badly wounded when a bullet entered over his left eye and fractured his skull. He was able to return to the field in April 1863. In October 1863, while commanding a brigade in A.P. Hill's corps, Cooke was again seriously wounded at the Battle of Bristoe Station
Battle of Bristoe Station
The Battle of Bristoe Station was fought on October 14, 1863, at Bristoe Station, Virginia, between Union forces under Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill during the Bristoe Campaign of the American Civil War...
during Hill's attack on the Union II Corps
II Corps (ACW)
There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps during the American Civil War.* Army of the Cumberland, II Corps commanded by Thomas L. Crittenden , later renumbered XX Corps...
. His shinbone was shattered and he was knocked out of action for some time. He passed the time by serving on courts of inquiry in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Cooke returned to duty but was once again wounded in the leg at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but remained on the field to lead an assault on horseback. Cooke was wounded seven times during the Civil War.
Post-War life
When the War ended, Cooke went to Richmond, and became a merchant. He was an active member of the community and was one of the founders of the Confederate Soldiers Home in Richmond. The family breach with his father—who had stayed loyal to the Union—was healed some time after the end of the War. Cooke died in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and is buried there in Hollywood Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)