John Rogers Cooke

Infobox Military Person
name= John Rogers Cooke
lived= June 9, 1833 – April 10, 1891


caption=
nickname=
placeofbirth= Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
placeofdeath= Richmond, Virginia
allegiance= United States of America, Confederate States of America
branch=
serviceyears= 1855–61 (U.S.A), 1861–65 (C.S.A)
rank= Brigadier General
unit=
commands=
battles= American Civil War
*Battle of Antietam
*Battle of Fredericksburg
*Battle of Bristoe Station
*Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse
awards=
relations=
laterwork=
John Rogers Cooke (June 9, 1833 – April 10, 1891) 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.

Biography

Son of an army officer, Cooke was born at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Educated first at Harvard, Cooke was directly commissioned into the United States Army in 1855 as a second lieutenant of the 8th Infantry. When Virginia seceded from the Union, Cooke chose to follow his brother-in-law, Jeb Stuart, south. His father remained loyal to the north and the Union. [http://www.aphillcsa.com/cooke.html And Then A.P. Hill Came Up - Biography of John R. Cooke ] ]

Civil War

In April 1862, Cooke was elected colonel of the 27th North Carolina Infantry. Although, wounded at Antietam, he was able to keep the field and was promoted to general on November 1, 1862.

Leading a brigade in action at 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. 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. He returned to duty but was once again wounded in the leg at 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, Virginia and is buried there in Hollywood Cemetery.

Notes

References and links

[http://www.aphillcsa.com/cooke.html And Then A.P. Hill Came Up- Biography of John Rogers Cooke]