Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) to Eliza Cook
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02570.20 Author/Creator: Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) Place Written: Mooresville, Alabama Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 March 1862 Pagination: 3 p. + addr. Order a Copy
Writes that he has been sicker than he has ever been in his life. Mostly camp news and general interest news. Cook hopes to visit and writes, "Will you be ready for me? Are you still the great fat girl you were writing to me about two or three months ago? You had better be or I shall begin to think you fatten on my absence. I will happen in on you all some day when you are at dinner and not looking for me. Would it not be pleasant for me to peep in at the dining room door on you when you were thinking me far away? Laugh at the idea now as you will but you see if I don't slip in on you some day when you least expect me." He writes, "Why don't Ida (his daughter) write to me? I have not had a letter from you either old gal since 1st March and it was dated in January. What does this mean? I won't come to see you if you don't write to me, maybe. I hardly know where to tell to direct your letters but for the present send them to 'Decatur, Ala.'."
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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