A Collection in the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 23896
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 USA Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference) Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference) Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives) URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
Philip St. George Cooke (1809-1895) was born in Loudoun County, Virginia. He graduated in 1827 from the United States Military
Academy and served in the United States Army well over 50 years. He was commissioned a colonel in 1858 and a brigadier general
in 1861. Cooke commanded the cavalry around Washington D.C. early in the Civil War and led a division during the Peninsular
Campaign in 1862. For the remainder of the war, Cooke held various district commands and as the general superintendent for
recruiting. Cooke and his wife Rachel Wilt Hertzog Cooke had 3 daughters and one son. One daughter, Flora (1837-1923), married
the famous Confederate General Jeb Stuart (1833-1864). Cooke's son John R. Cooke (1833-1891) studied at Harvard in the 1850s
and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 8th Infantry in 1856 and a first lieutenant in the same regiment in 1861. He
resigned his commission and entered the Confederate service, rising to the rank of brigadier general. John R. Cooke became
a merchant in Richmond, Virginia, after the war. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Papers, 1855-1871, of the Cooke family of Missouri and Virginia consisting of letters, 1855-1871, concerning John R. Cooke's
(1833-1891) military career in the United States army; his service as an officer in the Confederate army, including correspondence
with his brother-in-law Jeb Stuart (1833-1864) discussing the war and his father, Union General Philip St. George Cooke (1809-1895);
Virginia's secession; the battle of Big Bethel; John R. Cooke's post-war recollections; and a recommendation of Cooke as superintendent
for the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. Papers also include commissions, 1855 and 1861, for Cooke as 2nd and 1st lieutenant
in the United States army; invoice for ordnance; plan of the battle of Fredericksburg; Robert E. Lee's (1807-1870) General
Order no. 9 announcing the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia; and a sketch map of Holly Shelter Creek and vicinity,
Pender County, North Carolina.
Letter,
2 April 1855,
from Philip St. George Cooke at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to his son John R. Cooke of St. Louis, Missouri, concerning a request
for a commission for John R. Cooke in the United States Army, includes a letter, dated 1 March 1855, from Secretary of War
Jefferson Davis to Philip St. George Cooke informing him that John R. Cooke had been placed on a list of applicants for a
commission.
Commission,
23 July 1855,
for John R. Cooke as 2nd lieutenant in the 8th Infantry, U.S. Army to date from 30 June 1855 signed by President Franklin
Pierce and Secretary of War Davis.
Letter,
15 July 1858,
from Philip St. George Cooke to John R. Cooke containing news and advice.
Commission,
29 March 1861,
for John R. Cooke as 1st lieutenant in the 8th Infantry, U.S. Army to dated from 28 January 1861 signed by President Abraham
Lincoln and Secretary of War Simon Cameron.
Invoice,
20 April 1861,
for ordnance from John R. Cooke, 1st lieutenant 8th Infantry to Jeb Stuart, 1st lieutenant 1st Cavalry.
Letter,
21 April 1861,
from John R. Cooke at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to his mother containing news of Virginia's secession, the situation at Fort
Leavenworth, and advice to his mother for her safety.
Letter,
13 June 1861,
from John R. Cooke to his sister Flora Cooke Stuart at Wytheville, Virginia, sending personal news and news of the battle
at Big Bethel, Virginia.
Letter,
12 July 1861,
from John R. Cooke to Flora Stuart asking for shirts and news about their parents and containing personal news.
Letter,
18 January 1862,
from General Jeb Stuart to John R. Cooke informing Cooke that Stuart is proud and supportive of him and expressing mortification
that Cooke's father, Philip St. George Cooke, fighting for the Union.
Letter,
20 March 1862,
from John R. Cooke to Flora Stuart informing her that he has been promoted to major and chief of artillery for the Aquia district.
Ltter,
4 December 1862,
from Mary Anston Taliaferro to John R. Cooke informing him that a Union soldier wishes to get out of the war and wants to
arrange a parole.
plan of the Battle of Fredericksburg,
13 December 1862.
Letter,
January 1863,
from General John R. Cooke to Jeb Stuart concerning Cooke's command at Kinston, North Carolina and efforts to prevent a Union
advance on Wilmington, North Carolina.
Letter,
28 February 1863,
from Jeb Stuart to John R. Cooke sending news of Stuart's cavalry and advising Cooke to stay out of army politics.
Letter,
2 June 1863,
from General D. H. Hill to John R. Cooke ordering Cooke and his command to Richmond, Virginia, and the Army of Northern Virginia,
and regretting losing Cooke.
Letter,
9[?] June 1863,
from D. H. Hill to John R. Cooke suggesting a possibility of keeping Cooke and his command
Letter,
8 October 1863,
from General Robert E. Lee ordering John R. Cooke to be ready to move his command.
Letter,
15 December 1864,
from John R. Cooke to Flora Cooke containing army and personal news.
General Order No. 9,
10 April 1865,
by Robert E. Lee informing the Army of Northern Virginia that it is surrendered.
Letter,
21 December 1868,
from John O. Steger of Richmond, Virginia, to the President and Directors of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad recommending
John R. Cooke as superintendent of the railroad.
Letter,
21 June 1871,
from Richard S. Ewell of Spring Hill, Maury County, Tennessee, to John R. Cooke sending personal news and asking for Cooke's
thoughts on the late war.
Letter,
16 May [1863?],
from General James Longstreet to John R. Cooke informing Cooke that he is trying to get Cooke's troops back under his command.
Rough sketched map,
no date,
of Holly Shelter Creek and vicinity in Pender County, North Carolina.
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