Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) [Collection of Gustave Cook, H company, 8th regiment, Texas, cavalry] [decimalized]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02570 Author/Creator: Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) Place Written: various places Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1861-1865 Pagination: 69 items Order a Copy
#3 mentions intention to attend the Jeff Davis inaugural. #8 mentions Union POW's from 1st Manassas arriving in New Orleans. #9 has good description of camp life. #10 has account of battle of Woodsonville, KY 12/17/1861 and death of Col. Terry. #18 Describes the evacuation of Nashville and retreat. #50 Is written left handed because of a wound. #54 refers to East Tenn. campaign as fearful one to the poor old Rangers. #55 warns his wife to be careful because all letters are exposed to capture. #58 16 pages long describing the imminent fall of Atlanta and expected fall of Richmond; concludes that the South will have to "out general" the North. #60 consists of reflections on the Confederate cause, raids on Sherman's lines of communication and the "war spirit" of the North. #61 Discusses Sherman's march and his belief in the Confederate cause. #64 describes hardships of camp life and #65 outlines his plans for the future.
Born in Alabama on July 3, 1835, Cook moved to Texas alone at the age of 15 and studied law independently. Cook enlisted as a private in 8th Texas Cavalry, "Terry's Texas Rangers," in 1861 and was promoted to colonel by July 1863. After the war he became a circuit court judge for Galveston, served in the Texas state legislature and led an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1890. He died in 1897 of complications from a wound suffered during his military service.
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