John Esten Cooke

A poet and writer, he had been a member of the 1st Company, Richmond Howitzers since 1859 and served with the battery in action at First Manassas in July 1861, but was discharged at the rank of Sergeant in January 1862. He joined the staff of General JEB Stuart first as a volunteer aide, then continuing after being commissioned First Lieutenant of Artillery on 19 May 1862. He was promoted to Captain in August to date from 25 July 1862.

He was appointed (Asst?) Chief of Ordnance of the Cavalry Division at some time in 1862, and served on Stuart's staff until the General's death at Yellow Tavern, Virginia in May 1864. He was then assigned as Assistant Adjutant General of the Artillery Corps of the ANV to the end of the War.

He resumed a productive writing career, and was known as a strong spokesman for Virginia (ex)Confederates and the Lost Cause.

Nephew of Federal Cavalry General Philip StGeorge Cooke, so cousin to both the General's daughter Flora (wife of JEB Stuart) and son John Rogers Cooke (commanding the 27th North Carolina Infantry at Sharpsburg). Bio details from Richmond Volunteers1 and Encyclopedia Virginia2. His photograph is from the University of Virginia, Special Collections Library.

11/03/1830; near Winchester, VA

09/27/1886; Clarke County, VA; burial in Old Chapel Cemetery, Clarke County, VA