Fought Confederates and Indians: USA Maj. Gen. John Cook

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. John Cook (b. 1825, d. 1910) Seeing action against both the Confederates and Sioux Indians during the Civil War years, John Cook exited the U.S. Army as a brevet major general Aug. 25, 1865. Born in Belleville, Illinois, June 12, 1825, Cook was part of a prestigious family. His father, Daniel P. Cook, was an Illinois congressman. Cook County, Illinois, was named for him. Cook was orphaned at a young age and was raised by his grandfather, Ninian Edwards, who was the Illinois governor and later was a U.S. Senator. Cook went to college in Jacksonville, Illinois and then was educated in mercantile business in St. Louis. After that, he went into real estate business with his uncle in Springfield, Illinois. In 1855, Cook was elected mayor of Springfield. In 1856, he was elected sheriff of Sangamon County. He also became the state’s quartermaster general. Cook entered Federal service April 25, 1861, when he was commissioned colonel of the 7th Illinois Infantry, the first regiment mustered into service of Illinois. Based out of Cairo, Illinois, Cook commanded a brigade in Brig. Gen. Charles F. Smith’s division during the campaign against Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee in February of 1862. Cook’s brigade captured a key Confederate battery during the Fort Donelson siege. For his actions at Fort Donelson, he was promoted to brigadier general to rank from March 21, 1862. Assigned to command the Department of Iowa and North Dakota, he campaigned against the Sioux Nation during the winter of 1862-63. In the spring of 1863, Cook was relieved there. In November of 1864, Cook was named commander of the District of Illinois. He was there when the war ended. After a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers, Cook mustered out on the same day. In 1868, Cook was elected to the Illinois legislature out of Sangamon County. In 1879, he took over the Sioux agency in South Dakota known as the Rosebud. He lived much of his later life in Ransom, Michigan. He died there Oct. 13, 1910. He was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

[Gil R.]

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