Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) to Eliza Cook
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02570.09 Author/Creator: Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) Place Written: Camp Johnson, near Bowling Green, Ky. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 October 1861 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he is bored and that nothing is interesting happens. He and a friend (John Weston) have decided to take turns writing home to keep their families posted. Reports that Sam Glascock is very ill but tells Eliza to be careful who she tells. He writes, "Tell all the kin howdye and my friends also. I have not had the first letter from Texas yet except the one by Mr. Kendall. Why don't you all write to me?" He continues, "Well old lady you have not written me the first letter yet and I must punish you for it, so just look out for plenty more from me every week or so until you do write. I know no better way to punish you than to make you read my letters."
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.
[Notes written at the top of the page: Elye Elize Ev Eliza]
Camp Johnson
Near, Bowling Green, Ky
Oct 28th 1861-
My dear Lizzie
I have been waiting for some change to occur or something of interest to transpire ere writing you again but is seems that the same old thing is to continue indefinitely. For fear then that you might think strangely of my silence I write you simply to say that we are all well, except Jesse Thompson who has been quite sick for some days but is better this evening. He was threatened with pneumonia but I think will escape it. John Weston and myself have agreed to write by turns, he one week to Lou and I the next to you in order to keep you both posted. We have the measles pretty badly in camp but it seems to be of a light type and has proved fatal in no case yet in the Regiment. John Miller from the Bernard has a fresh case of it, just developed today. No very [2] [Notes written at the top of the page: fug furguson] serious case yet has yet occurred in our company. Charles Kemp (the widow Kemp' son) will be discharged and sent back home in a day or two. He has been sick nearly every day since leaving Houston and it seems as though he will never get well enough to do duty. Sam Glasscock is quite ill with pneumonia but I desire you not to mention it where it will get out as his family would be made uneasy and I am satisfied he will get well. Say nothing of it except to trusty friends. Fayette is still a little delicate; I tell him sometimes that I think he is in the family way- don't tell any of the young ladies for fear that his character might be injured. Consult Dr Feris as to what I shall do for him as I desire him to go through safely. We are all in good spirits and having mounted the first division of 500 men we hope to take a fly over Green River pretty soon in search of fresh [3] scalps. It is terribly irksome to stay in camps day after day with nothing for the men to do but simple guard duty and that too when we are in 20 or 25 miles of the Yankees. My duties however keep me busily employed from the first dawn of day until 9 or 10 o'clock at night and I sleep very comfortably I can assure you. I wish you to keep up good spirits and rest satisfied on my account for I am doing better than you imagine perhaps. Tell the little gals, Ida, Polly, Hentoe and Peg, that papa will stand up for them faithfully and send then all his wages to buy something to eat and wear. Make Hen spell potato[struck: e] for pop. I just want you to hold up for a while and all will be right.
Tell all the Kin howdye and my friends also. I have not had the first letter from Texas yet except the one by Mr Kendall. Why don't you all write to me? Tell [4] Earnest that Mr Lencave receives letters from him, very regularly. That is O.K. I will of course write to him every day. Tell Henry Thompson to be quiet and content himself just where he is, that he is not needed here. We have fifty or sixty thousand troops here now and that I want him to stay just where he is. I will write to him next Sunday. Tell Dr Mot that I would like to be his 1st Lieutenant very much and not to bring his company here. Well old lady you have not written me the first letter yet and I must punish you for it, so just look out for plenty more from me every week or so until you do write. I know no better way to punish you than to make you read my letters. Goodbye Lizzie for a few days. I will write you regularly. Your husband
Gustave Cook
P.S. Direct as heretofore to Nashville, Care of Col Terry
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