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Chauncey H. Cooke

May 03, 2024

Chauncey Hibbard Cooke (May 15, 1846 – May 11, 1919) was a United States Army soldier from Buffalo County, Wisconsin who fought in the American Civil War.[4] After the war ended, he worked as a schoolteacher, teaching former slaves in Texas.

Chauncey H. Cooke
Birth nameChauncey Hibbard Cooke
Born(1846-05-15)May 15, 1846[1]
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.[2]
DiedMay 11, 1919(1919-05-11) (aged 72)
Mondovi, Wisconsin, U.S.[3]
Buried
Buffalo County, Wisconsin, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch U.S. Army (Union Army)
Years of serviceAugust 1862 – May 15, 1865
Rank Private
Unit Company G, 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsIndian Wars (1862)
American Civil War (1862–1865)
Spouse(s)
Sarah Eliza Caves
​
(m. 1882)​
RelationsSamuel S. Cooke (son), Carl Hibbard Cooke, Rodney Cooke (son), Samuel Shattuck Cooke (father), Loduskey Gardner (mother)
Other workFreedmen's schoolteacher, farmer, Buffalo County commission member, Grand Army of the Republic commander

Early life and education edit

Cooke was born in Columbus, Ohio in May 1846; he had three brothers and a sister. He visited Winchester, Indiana in 1856 and grew up in Buffalo County, Wisconsin. While growing up in Wisconsin, he lived amicably near Native Americans, and both he and his father had a favorable opinion of them.

Career edit

American Civil War edit

In August 1862, Cooke joined the U.S. Army with the 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was 16 years old and thus underage at the time, but was this was not noticed by his superiors. He joined the U.S. Army as both he and his father were abolitionists who were opposed to slavery. Upon joining the army, Cooke's father reminded of him of why he was fighting for the United States, saying to him, "Don't forget that there are four million slaves whose hope of liberty is at stake in this war."[5]

However, after he joined the army, his unit was sent to Minnesota to fight Sioux Native Americans. Cooke disliked this for two reasons, first as he had joined the army to fight against the Confederacy and its cause of slavery, and second because he had a favorable opinion of Native Americans and felt that they were being treated unfairly by the U.S. government.[6] The unit's mission in Minnesota ended without major combat in November 1862, as the reason for its deployment had been resolved. The unit was then sent to Illinois and arrived there in February 1863. Afterwards, they then headed to Kentucky.

Contact with slaves edit

While in Kentucky, Cooke met with many slaves that had been freed by the U.S. Army, and was impressed by their demeanor. He was especially impressed by freed slaves he had met that were from Louisiana and could speak multiple languages. Meeting these slaves strengthened Cooke's dislike of slavery, as he felt that these slaves, some of whom were more intelligent than he was, should not be enslaved.[7]

Cooke stated that his primary reason for fighting for the U.S. in the war was to free the slaves,[8] stating that "I have no heart in this war if the slaves cannot go free."[9][10][11]

Contact with Confederates edit

During the war, Cooke came across Confederate prisoners that had been captured by the U.S. Army. He would often ask them why they were waging a war against the United States, to which they consistently replied that they were fighting against the U.S. so that the Confederacy's women would be prevented from marrying slaves, which the Confederates constantly referred to as "niggers".[12][13][14] Disapproving of the Confederates' use of racist language and their staunchly pro-slavery views, Cooke referred to them as "Poor ignorant devils".

Discharge edit

Cooke fell ill and was discharged from the army on May 15, 1865. He was proud of his service in the U.S. Army and what U.S. victory in the war had achieved in ending slavery.

Later life and death edit

After the war, Cooke returned to Buffalo County and in 1870 was living with his parents, three brothers, and a sister in his father's hotel in Alma, Wisconsin, the county seat of Buffalo County. Cooke attended Eau Claire Seminary, which became the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. He then taught briefly as a teacher in Wisconsin. Cooke's commitment to helping the slaves did not end with the end of slavery, he lived for several years in Texas, teaching and educating former slaves. Afterwards, he returned to Buffalo County, Wisconsin and lived as a farmer there.[15]

Cooke served as a member of the Buffalo County commission and was commander of his local Grand Army of the Republic. He worked, farming in Dover Township and farmed until a few years before his death.

Cooke died in May 1919. On the day of his funeral, the businesses in his town agreed to close for two hours. His gravestone lists him as a friend to African Americans and Native Americans alike and notes that he fought in the army to preserve the U.S. and free the slaves.

Personal life edit

Cooke married Sarah Eliza Caves on September 27, 1882; she died in 1933. They had three sons, Samuel S. Cooke, Carl Hibbard Cooke and Rodney Cooke, who became an army lieutenant and died during World War I.

References edit

  1. ^ Mulligan Jr., William H. (October 2008). American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  2. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  3. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  4. ^ Kuhl, Michelle (March 22, 2009). . Michigan Historical Review. Michigan. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  5. ^ . Mondavi Herald. Wisconsin. May 16, 1919. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  6. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  7. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  8. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  9. ^ Cannon, Carl M. (2004). The Pursuit of Happiness in Times of War. Lanham, Maryland: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. pp. 293–294. ISBN 978-0-7425-2592-4. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  10. ^ Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (1919). (PDF). Mondovi: The Mondovi Herald. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  11. ^ McPherson, James M. (1997). For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. New York City, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. p. 117. ISBN 0-19-509-023-3. OCLC 34912692. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  12. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  13. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  14. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  15. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. ix. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

Further reading edit

  • William De Loss Love, Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion (1866).
  • E. B. Quiner, The Military History of Wisconsin (1866).
  • Henry Casson, "Uncle Jerry": The Life of General Jeremiah M. Rusk: Stage Driver, Farmer, Soldier, Legislator, Governor, Cabinet Officer (1895).
  • Warren W. Cooke, A Frontiersman in Northwestern Wisconsin (1940)
  • James I. Clarke, The Civil War of Private Cooke: A Wisconsin Boy in the Union Army (1955).
  • Margaret Brobst Roth, ed., Well, Mary: Civil War Letters of a Wisconsin Volunteer (1960).

External links edit

May 03, 2024
chauncey, cooke, chauncey, hibbard, cooke, 1846, 1919, united, states, army, soldier, from, buffalo, county, wisconsin, fought, american, civil, after, ended, worked, schoolteacher, teaching, former, slaves, texas, birth, namechauncey, hibbard, cookeborn, 1846. Chauncey Hibbard Cooke May 15 1846 May 11 1919 was a United States Army soldier from Buffalo County Wisconsin who fought in the American Civil War 4 After the war ended he worked as a schoolteacher teaching former slaves in Texas Chauncey H CookeBirth nameChauncey Hibbard CookeBorn 1846 05 15 May 15 1846 1 Columbus Ohio U S 2 DiedMay 11 1919 1919 05 11 aged 72 Mondovi Wisconsin U S 3 BuriedBuffalo County Wisconsin U S Allegiance United StatesService wbr branchU S Army Union Army Years of serviceAugust 1862 May 15 1865RankPrivateUnitCompany G 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry RegimentBattles warsIndian Wars 1862 American Civil War 1862 1865 Spouse s Sarah Eliza Caves m 1882 wbr RelationsSamuel S Cooke son Carl Hibbard Cooke Rodney Cooke son Samuel Shattuck Cooke father Loduskey Gardner mother Other workFreedmen s schoolteacher farmer Buffalo County commission member Grand Army of the Republic commander Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 American Civil War 2 1 1 Contact with slaves 2 1 2 Contact with Confederates 2 1 3 Discharge 3 Later life and death 4 Personal life 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life and education editCooke was born in Columbus Ohio in May 1846 he had three brothers and a sister He visited Winchester Indiana in 1856 and grew up in Buffalo County Wisconsin While growing up in Wisconsin he lived amicably near Native Americans and both he and his father had a favorable opinion of them Career editAmerican Civil War edit In August 1862 Cooke joined the U S Army with the 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment He was 16 years old and thus underage at the time but was this was not noticed by his superiors He joined the U S Army as both he and his father were abolitionists who were opposed to slavery Upon joining the army Cooke s father reminded of him of why he was fighting for the United States saying to him Don t forget that there are four million slaves whose hope of liberty is at stake in this war 5 However after he joined the army his unit was sent to Minnesota to fight Sioux Native Americans Cooke disliked this for two reasons first as he had joined the army to fight against the Confederacy and its cause of slavery and second because he had a favorable opinion of Native Americans and felt that they were being treated unfairly by the U S government 6 The unit s mission in Minnesota ended without major combat in November 1862 as the reason for its deployment had been resolved The unit was then sent to Illinois and arrived there in February 1863 Afterwards they then headed to Kentucky Contact with slaves edit While in Kentucky Cooke met with many slaves that had been freed by the U S Army and was impressed by their demeanor He was especially impressed by freed slaves he had met that were from Louisiana and could speak multiple languages Meeting these slaves strengthened Cooke s dislike of slavery as he felt that these slaves some of whom were more intelligent than he was should not be enslaved 7 Cooke stated that his primary reason for fighting for the U S in the war was to free the slaves 8 stating that I have no heart in this war if the slaves cannot go free 9 10 11 Contact with Confederates edit During the war Cooke came across Confederate prisoners that had been captured by the U S Army He would often ask them why they were waging a war against the United States to which they consistently replied that they were fighting against the U S so that the Confederacy s women would be prevented from marrying slaves which the Confederates constantly referred to as niggers 12 13 14 Disapproving of the Confederates use of racist language and their staunchly pro slavery views Cooke referred to them as Poor ignorant devils Discharge edit Cooke fell ill and was discharged from the army on May 15 1865 He was proud of his service in the U S Army and what U S victory in the war had achieved in ending slavery Later life and death editAfter the war Cooke returned to Buffalo County and in 1870 was living with his parents three brothers and a sister in his father s hotel in Alma Wisconsin the county seat of Buffalo County Cooke attended Eau Claire Seminary which became the University of Wisconsin La Crosse He then taught briefly as a teacher in Wisconsin Cooke s commitment to helping the slaves did not end with the end of slavery he lived for several years in Texas teaching and educating former slaves Afterwards he returned to Buffalo County Wisconsin and lived as a farmer there 15 Cooke served as a member of the Buffalo County commission and was commander of his local Grand Army of the Republic He worked farming in Dover Township and farmed until a few years before his death Cooke died in May 1919 On the day of his funeral the businesses in his town agreed to close for two hours His gravestone lists him as a friend to African Americans and Native Americans alike and notes that he fought in the army to preserve the U S and free the slaves Personal life editCooke married Sarah Eliza Caves on September 27 1882 she died in 1933 They had three sons Samuel S Cooke Carl Hibbard Cooke and Rodney Cooke who became an army lieutenant and died during World War I References edit Mulligan Jr William H October 2008 Cooke Chauncey H American National Biography Online Oxford University Press Archived from the original on March 31 2016 Retrieved March 30 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 1 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 2 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Kuhl Michelle March 22 2009 Chauncey H Cooke and William H Mulligan Jr comp A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Book review Michigan Historical Review Michigan Archived from the original on March 31 2016 Retrieved March 30 2016 Obituary Mondavi Herald Wisconsin May 16 1919 Archived from the original on March 31 2016 Retrieved March 30 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 12 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 57 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 31 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Cannon Carl M 2004 The Pursuit of Happiness in Times of War Lanham Maryland The Rowman amp Littlefield Publishing Group Inc pp 293 294 ISBN 978 0 7425 2592 4 Retrieved April 1 2016 Cooke Chauncey Herbert 1919 Soldier Boy s Letters to His Father and Mother 1862 1865 PDF Mondovi The Mondovi Herald Archived from the original PDF on March 10 2016 Retrieved March 9 2016 McPherson James M 1997 For Cause and Comrades Why Men Fought in the Civil War New York City New York Oxford University Press Inc p 117 ISBN 0 19 509 023 3 OCLC 34912692 Retrieved March 30 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 86 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 99 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p 113 ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Mulligan William H Jr Cooke Chauncey Herbert 2007 A Badger Boy in Blue The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke Detroit Michigan Wayne State University Press p ix ISBN 978 0 8143 3343 3 Retrieved March 29 2016 Further reading editWilliam De Loss Love Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion 1866 E B Quiner The Military History of Wisconsin 1866 Henry Casson Uncle Jerry The Life of General Jeremiah M Rusk Stage Driver Farmer Soldier Legislator Governor Cabinet Officer 1895 Warren W Cooke A Frontiersman in Northwestern Wisconsin 1940 James I Clarke The Civil War of Private Cooke A Wisconsin Boy in the Union Army 1955 Margaret Brobst Roth ed Well Mary Civil War Letters of a Wisconsin Volunteer 1960 External links editChauncey H Cooke at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chauncey H Cooke amp oldid 1167998042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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