Captain John Esten Cooke C.S.A

southern blue

Sergeant
Joined
Oct 14, 2014
Location
Virginia
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He is constantly being quoted in Civil War discussions for several reasons, one being his father was John Rogers Cooke, brother of Union General Philip St. George Cooke who was in turn the father of Flora Cooke who married CSA General J.E.B Stuart. Cooke did a stint as a member of Stuart's Staff during the war. (apparently Stuart didn't think much of him). He was a lawyer who became an author best known for his biographies of Lee and Jackson and his 'lost cause' writings after the war. Its been said that he is more poet than historian.

A more complete bio can be found here...http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Cooke_John_Esten_1830-1886

This marker is in Clarke County VA.

Briars%20Historical%20Marker_zps16hj1ih0.jpg


The Briars.

The%20Briars%20Three_zpsycmraoex.jpg



Cooke came by the house via his wife who inherited it from her father. Whatever. They were apparently very happy and were the parents of three children. One of his sons became a medical Doctor who assisted Doctor Walter Reed in the search for the cause of yellow fever.

Their graves are located in the Old Chapel Cemetery in Clarke County VA alongside graves of other Confederate veterans (notably many of the Stonewall Brigade)

John%20Esten%20Cooke_zpsqp0a6k81.jpg
 
JEC%202_zpsu677ycqd.jpg


He is constantly being quoted in Civil War discussions for several reasons, one being his father was John Rogers Cooke, brother of Union General Philip St. George Cooke who was in turn the father of Flora Cooke who married CSA General J.E.B Stuart. Cooke did a stint as a member of Stuart's Staff during the war. (apparently Stuart didn't think much of him). He was a lawyer who became an author best known for his biographies of Lee and Jackson and his 'lost cause' writings after the war. Its been said that he is more poet than historian.

A more complete bio can be found here...http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Cooke_John_Esten_1830-1886

This marker is in Clarke County VA.

Briars%20Historical%20Marker_zps16hj1ih0.jpg


The Briars.

The%20Briars%20Three_zpsycmraoex.jpg



Cooke came by the house via his wife who inherited it from her father. Whatever. They were apparently very happy and were the parents of three children. One of his sons became a medical Doctor who assisted Doctor Walter Reed in the search for the cause of yellow fever.

Their graves are located in the Old Chapel Cemetery in Clarke County VA alongside graves of other Confederate veterans (notably many of the Stonewall Brigade)

John%20Esten%20Cooke_zpsqp0a6k81.jpg
Nice post! "You learn something new every day"--especially here.
 
Nice post! "You learn something new every day"--especially here.

Thank you. I have driven by that historical marker many times and I actually knew a lady who lived in that house (once again I don't hang out with people who live in those kind of houses...it was a very casual acquaintance) and for some reason it didn't 'sink in' who he was... I never knew the history connected with that house.
 
Thank you. I have driven by that historical marker many times and I actually knew a lady who lived in that house (once again I don't hang out with people who live in those kind of houses...it was a very casual acquaintance) and for some reason it didn't 'sink in' who he was... I never knew the history connected with that house.
That's even better! wow...
 
Trying to find more about the house, I found this interesting essay. There's another post dedicated to Cooke on the same blog.

https://cenantua.wordpress.com/2014...ere-scattered-everywhere-a-day-at-the-briars/

The appearance of the house has changed since Cooke lived there. A wing has been added and there was a simple front porch that is now gone. The road that went up to it has been redirected so that it now passes to the original back of the house instead of to the front. There is a 'hospital church close by.

If I can find a copy of how the house originally looked I will post it.
 
The%20Briars%201907_zpsrh5ojvdw.jpg


This is the best I could find. It is a post card. It looks like the main building has been extended in both directions and another wing added. Its really a rather odd shaped house. The part with the porch was originally the front which cannot be seen from the modern road. The porch is no longer there.
 
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