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Alexander McDowell McCook

Alexander McDowell McCook (April 22, 1831 – June 12, 1903) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War.

Alexander McDowell McCook
Alexander McDowell McCook
Born(1831-04-22)April 22, 1831
Columbiana County, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 1903(1903-06-12) (aged 72)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1852–1895
Rank Major General
Commands held1st Ohio Infantry
XX Corps
10th U.S. Infantry
6th U.S. Infantry
Battles/warsIndian Wars

American Civil War

Early life edit

McCook was born in Columbiana County, Ohio. A Scottish family, the McCooks were prominent in army service — his father Daniel McCook and seven of Alexander's brothers, plus five of his first cousins, fought in the war. They were known as "The Fighting McCooks", for whom McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio, was named. His brothers Daniel McCook, Jr., Edwin Stanton McCook, and Robert Latimer McCook were all Union generals, as were his cousins Anson G. McCook and Edward M. McCook. Their grandfather George McCook had participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and escaped to the United States after it was defeated.

McCook graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1852, served against the Apaches and Utes in New Mexico in 1853–57, and was assistant instructor of infantry tactics at the military academy in 1858–61. He held the rank of 1st lieutenant in the regular army when war broke out in 1861.[1]

Civil War edit

 
Maj. Gen Alexander M. McCook (center) and his staff on porch of quarters, Brightwood (7th Street Road near present Sheridan St)
 
General Alexander McDowell McCook's headquarters, Tuscumbia, Alabama, by Adolph Metzner.
 
Camp of General Alexander McDowell McCook near Stevenson, Alabama, summer 1862, by Adolph Metzner.

At the start of the Civil War, McCook received a commission as colonel of the 1st Ohio Infantry in April 1861. He served in the Washington defenses and saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run.[2] McCook was promoted to captain in the regular army in May.

On September 3, 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, commanded a brigade in Kentucky that fall, and led a division by February 1862. He earned the brevet of lieutenant colonel in the regular army for his part in the capture of Nashville, Tennessee. McCook then commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh on the second day of fighting, and then in the subsequent campaign against Corinth. He was promoted to major general of volunteers on July 17, 1862.

McCook was given command of the I Corps in the Army of the Ohio. His corps suffered heavy casualties and driven back a mile at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. Command of the Army of the Ohio was reorganized and his command designated the Right Wing of the XIV Corps in the new Army of the Cumberland. His command again suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Stones River. Once again the command structure was reorganized and his corps named the XX Corps. For the third and final time, at Chickamauga, McCook's troops suffered heavily and were driven from the field. He was court-martialed and partially blamed for the Union disaster at Chickamauga. He was not convicted but relieved of duty in the Army of the Cumberland. McCook's demotion from command was in large part political, as he was a pro-slavery Democrat and had earned the ire of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

He waited almost a year before receiving another command assignment of any kind. It came thanks in part to Confederate General Jubal Early and his threat against Washington, D.C. McCook was placed in command of the "Defenses of the Potomac River and Washington" and was in charge of all forces defending the capital at the Battle of Fort Stevens. The day the battle ended, so did McCook's command of the city's defenses and he was again without command. At the close of the war he was given command of the District of Eastern Arkansas. He received brevet promotions to brigadier general and major general in the regular army for service throughout the war.

Postbellum career edit

McCook resigned from the volunteer service in October 1865 and reverted to the regular army rank of captain. In 1867, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 25th US Infantry. He served in Texas, mostly in garrison duty, until 1874. From 1875 to 1880, he served as the aide-de-camp to the general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, Gen. William T. Sherman. In 1880, he was promoted to full colonel. From 1886 to 1890 (except for brief terms of absence), he commanded Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the infantry and cavalry school there.[1] He then commanded the Department of Arizona from 1890 to 1893 and the Department of Colorado from 1893 to 1895.

McCook became a full brigadier general in 1890, a major general in 1894, and retired in 1895. One of his final actions before retirement was helping send Army troops to break up the 1894 Chicago railroad strike. In 1898–99, he served on a commission to investigate the United States Department of War as administered during the Spanish–American War.[1]

McCook died at his daughter's home in Dayton, Ohio, on June 12, 1903, after suffering a stroke and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio.

The town of McCook, Nebraska, was named in his honor.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "McCook, Alexander McDowell". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 205.
  2. ^ Chisholm 1911.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 193.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Alexander McDowell McCook at Wikimedia Commons
Military offices
Preceded by
none
Commander of the XX Corps
January 9, 1863 – October 9, 1863
Succeeded by
none
Preceded by Commandant of the Command and General Staff College
August 1890 – October 1894
Succeeded by
Edwin F. Townsend

alexander, mcdowell, mccook, april, 1831, june, 1903, career, united, states, army, officer, union, general, american, civil, born, 1831, april, 1831columbiana, county, ohio, diedjune, 1903, 1903, aged, dayton, ohio, place, burialspring, grove, cemetery, cinci. Alexander McDowell McCook April 22 1831 June 12 1903 was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War Alexander McDowell McCookAlexander McDowell McCookBorn 1831 04 22 April 22 1831Columbiana County Ohio U S DiedJune 12 1903 1903 06 12 aged 72 Dayton Ohio U S Place of burialSpring Grove Cemetery Cincinnati OhioAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1852 1895RankMajor GeneralCommands held1st Ohio InfantryXX Corps10th U S Infantry6th U S InfantryBattles warsIndian WarsAmerican Civil War First Battle of Bull Run Battle of Shiloh Siege of Corinth Battle of Perryville Battle of Stones River Battle of Chickamauga Battle of Fort Stevens Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War 3 Postbellum career 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editMcCook was born in Columbiana County Ohio A Scottish family the McCooks were prominent in army service his father Daniel McCook and seven of Alexander s brothers plus five of his first cousins fought in the war They were known as The Fighting McCooks for whom McCook Field in Dayton Ohio was named His brothers Daniel McCook Jr Edwin Stanton McCook and Robert Latimer McCook were all Union generals as were his cousins Anson G McCook and Edward M McCook Their grandfather George McCook had participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and escaped to the United States after it was defeated McCook graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1852 served against the Apaches and Utes in New Mexico in 1853 57 and was assistant instructor of infantry tactics at the military academy in 1858 61 He held the rank of 1st lieutenant in the regular army when war broke out in 1861 1 Civil War edit nbsp Maj Gen Alexander M McCook center and his staff on porch of quarters Brightwood 7th Street Road near present Sheridan St nbsp General Alexander McDowell McCook s headquarters Tuscumbia Alabama by Adolph Metzner nbsp Camp of General Alexander McDowell McCook near Stevenson Alabama summer 1862 by Adolph Metzner At the start of the Civil War McCook received a commission as colonel of the 1st Ohio Infantry in April 1861 He served in the Washington defenses and saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run 2 McCook was promoted to captain in the regular army in May On September 3 1861 he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers commanded a brigade in Kentucky that fall and led a division by February 1862 He earned the brevet of lieutenant colonel in the regular army for his part in the capture of Nashville Tennessee McCook then commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh on the second day of fighting and then in the subsequent campaign against Corinth He was promoted to major general of volunteers on July 17 1862 McCook was given command of the I Corps in the Army of the Ohio His corps suffered heavy casualties and driven back a mile at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862 Command of the Army of the Ohio was reorganized and his command designated the Right Wing of the XIV Corps in the new Army of the Cumberland His command again suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Stones River Once again the command structure was reorganized and his corps named the XX Corps For the third and final time at Chickamauga McCook s troops suffered heavily and were driven from the field He was court martialed and partially blamed for the Union disaster at Chickamauga He was not convicted but relieved of duty in the Army of the Cumberland McCook s demotion from command was in large part political as he was a pro slavery Democrat and had earned the ire of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton He waited almost a year before receiving another command assignment of any kind It came thanks in part to Confederate General Jubal Early and his threat against Washington D C McCook was placed in command of the Defenses of the Potomac River and Washington and was in charge of all forces defending the capital at the Battle of Fort Stevens The day the battle ended so did McCook s command of the city s defenses and he was again without command At the close of the war he was given command of the District of Eastern Arkansas He received brevet promotions to brigadier general and major general in the regular army for service throughout the war Postbellum career editMcCook resigned from the volunteer service in October 1865 and reverted to the regular army rank of captain In 1867 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 25th US Infantry He served in Texas mostly in garrison duty until 1874 From 1875 to 1880 he served as the aide de camp to the general in chief of the U S Army Gen William T Sherman In 1880 he was promoted to full colonel From 1886 to 1890 except for brief terms of absence he commanded Fort Leavenworth Kansas and the infantry and cavalry school there 1 He then commanded the Department of Arizona from 1890 to 1893 and the Department of Colorado from 1893 to 1895 McCook became a full brigadier general in 1890 a major general in 1894 and retired in 1895 One of his final actions before retirement was helping send Army troops to break up the 1894 Chicago railroad strike In 1898 99 he served on a commission to investigate the United States Department of War as administered during the Spanish American War 1 McCook died at his daughter s home in Dayton Ohio on June 12 1903 after suffering a stroke and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery Cincinnati Ohio The town of McCook Nebraska was named in his honor 3 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portalList of American Civil War generals Union References editThis article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message a b c nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 McCook Alexander McDowell Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 17 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 205 Chisholm 1911 Gannett Henry 1905 The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States U S Government Printing Office p 193 Eicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford CA Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 External links edit nbsp Media related to Alexander McDowell McCook at Wikimedia CommonsMilitary officesPreceded bynone Commander of the XX CorpsJanuary 9 1863 October 9 1863 Succeeded bynonePreceded byThomas Howard Ruger Commandant of the Command and General Staff CollegeAugust 1890 October 1894 Succeeded byEdwin F Townsend Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander McDowell McCook amp oldid 1175843096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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