Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) to Eliza Cook
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02570.42 Author/Creator: Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) Place Written: Rome, Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 April [1863] Pagination: 6 p. Order a Copy
Wonders if all his letters are boring his wife. Discusses having a cough and recovering. Reports that he will be stopping one day and expects to see an abundance of letters from home, "If not, it is strange and I shall incline to think you neglect me. This may be unjust in me but why is it so few letters from you ever reach me?" Says he writes to more people than anyone in camp yet receives the least. He writes, "Enough, I have done, and unless my letters are answered and promptly I shall take it for granted they are uninteresting and shall cease writing altogether. My opportunities are poor indeed, paper is very scarce as indeed are all writing materials and I take it that when I write to persons at home who have requested me to do so it is the very least they could do with time and material in abundance to reply to me." Continues with these sentiments.
Discusses money matters. Says lately his expenses have been high and will send money once he returns to camp. Worries that Eliza will run out of money and says, "I have so frequently asked you how much money you had and to write me fully in regard to money matters and yet you have never answered."
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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