USN Cooke, Augustus Paul

Augustus Paul Cooke
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Born: February 10, 1836

Birthplace: Cooperstown New York

Father: Abner Cooke 1800 – 1849

Mother: Catherine Hamilton Nichols 1805 – 1848

1st​ Wife: Frances Rebecca Byram 1837 – 1886

(Buried: Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, New York)​

2nd​ Wife: Maria Jeanette Kemp 1843 – 1902

(Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York)​

Children:

George Allen Cooke Unknown – 1865​

(Buried: Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, New York)​

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Rev. Allan Worthington Cooke 1872 – 1944​

(Buried: Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, New York)​

Education:

1856: Graduated from United States Naval Academy​

Occupation before War:

1856 – 1859: Midshipman in the United States Navy​

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1859 – 1861: Master in the United States Navy​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Lt. in the United States Navy

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Served on crew of U.S. Navy frigate U.S.S. San Jacinto​

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Served in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron​

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Served on the U.S. Navy steam gunboat U.S.S. Pinola​

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1862 – 1870: Lt. Commander in the United States Navy​

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Commander of the U.S. Navy Sidewheel Steamer U.S.S. Estrella​

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Led operations on Atchafalaya River destroying Queen of the West​

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1864: Took an active part in the attack on Mobile, Alabama​

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1865: Transferred to the United States Naval Academy​

Occupation after War:

1862 – 1870: Lt. Commander in the United States Navy​

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1865 – 1867: Served at the United States Naval Academy​

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1867 – 1868: Served on U.S. Navy steam frigate U.S.S. Franklin​

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1867 – 1868: Served in the U.S. Navy European Squadron​

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1868 – 1869: Served on U.S. Navy steam sloop U.S.S. Ticonderoga​

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1870 – 1871: Served at the United States Naval Academy​

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1870 – 1881: Commander in the United States Navy​

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1871: First Navy Academy graduate Commander U.S.S. Constitution​

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1871 – 1874: Served at the United States Naval Academy​

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Author of a textbook on naval gunnery​

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1874 – 1877: Commander of U.S. Navy screw steamer U.S.S. Intrepid​

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1877 – 1878: Commander of U.S.S. Constitution​

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1881 – 1892: Captain in the United States Navy​

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1892: Retried from the United States Navy on May 27th​​

Died: September 7, 1896

Place of Death: Paris, France

Age at time of Death: 60 years old

Burial Place: Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York

 

[USS ALASKA]

"Destruction of the 'Queen of the West' by Union Gun-Boats."
Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1863, depicting CSS Queen of the West being destroyed in Grand Lake, Louisiana, during an attack by USS Estrella (extreme left), USS Calhoun (extreme right) and USS Arizona (second from right), 14 April 1863.
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 58759

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/86/098615505.jpg

Estrella
(SwStr: t. 438; a. 1 30-pdr. r., 2 32-pdr., 2 24-pdr. how.)
Former name retained.

Estrella, a side wheel steamer, was transferred from the Army to the Navy late in 1862, and commissioned soon after, Lieutenant Commander A. P. Cooke in command.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Estrella served throughout the war off Mobile and New Orleans, along the Texas coast, and up the rivers flowing into the Gulf. During the first 13 days of November 1862 she took part in a series of engagements with CSS Cotton and Confederate shore batteries along the Atchafalaya River and Bayou Teche. With her captain serving as commander of the flotilla maintained in Berwick Bay, Estrella led the attack on CSS Queen of the West 14 April 1863. The Confederate ship was set afire by Union gunfire and after 90 of her crew had been rescued, exploded. Four days later, Cooke led his flotilla up the Atchafalaya once more, to attack the batteries at Butte-a-la-Rose. The batteries were captured intact, with their garrison of 60 men and large supplies of ammunition and commissary stores. A Union Army garrison was at once sent up to hold the town, another key point won by the Navy in its continuing campaign to take complete control of coastal areas.

From 3 to 6 May 1863, Estrella sailed up the Red River to join in the attack on Fort De Russy, and during June and July participated in the attacks on Port Hudson which led to its fall on 9 July. Other outstanding events in her very active service included the capture of schooner Julia A. Hodges in Matagorda Bay, Tex., on 6 April 1864 and a leading role in the attacks on Fort Powell in Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. These attacks were made in coordination with the brilliant battle of Mobile Bay.

After being repaired at New Orleans in the first 4 months of 1865, Estrella served as flagship of the West Gulf Squadron, continuing to cruise in the Gulf of Mexico and its tributary waters until 30 June 1867, when she sailed for New York Navy Yard. There she was decommissioned 16 July 1867 and sold 9 October 1867.

Estrella

(SwStr: t. 438; a. 1 30-pdr. r., 2 32-pdr., 2 24-pdr. how.)

www.history.navy.mil

Cheers,
USS ALASKA