ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Major General Alexander McDowell McCook (USA)
Alexander McDowell McCook was born in Columbiana County, Ohio on 22 April 1831. His family was prominent in army service; his father, seven brothers, and five first cousins fought in the war and were known as "The Fighting McCooks". His brothers Daniel, Edwin, and Robert were Union generals, as were his cousins Anson G. McCook and Edward M. McCook. Alexander 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.
In April 1861, McCook was appointed colonel of the 1st Ohio Infantry. He served in the Washington defenses and saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run. On 3 September, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded a division in Tennessee. He earned a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the regular army for his part in the capture of Nashville, Tennessee. McCook commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh and in the campaign against Corinth. He was promoted to major general on 17 July 1862.
McCook was given command of the I Corps in the Army of the Ohio. His corps suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. Command of the army was reorganized as his command was 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. The command structure was again reorganized and his corps named the XX Corps. Again, his troops were beaten and driven from the field at the Battle of Chickamauga. He was court-martialed and partially blamed for the disaster at Chickamauga. He was not convicted but relieved of duty in the Army of the Cumberland.
McCook was placed in command of the "Defenses of the Potomac River and Washington" and had charge of all forces defending the capital at the Battle of Fort Stevens when Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early threatened Washington, D.C. The day the battle ended, McCook was once again without a command. At the end of the war, he was given command of the District of Eastern Arkansas. He received brevet promotions to brigadier and major general in the regular army for service throughout the war.
He resigned from the volunteer service in October 1865 and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 26th Infantry in March 1867. He served in Texas, mostly on 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. From 1886 to 1890, he commanded Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the infantry and cavalry school there. 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. In 1898-99, he served on a commission to investigate the United States Department of War as administered during the Spanish-American War. He died in Dayton, Ohio on 12 June 1903.
Alexander McDowell McCook was born in Columbiana County, Ohio on 22 April 1831. His family was prominent in army service; his father, seven brothers, and five first cousins fought in the war and were known as "The Fighting McCooks". His brothers Daniel, Edwin, and Robert were Union generals, as were his cousins Anson G. McCook and Edward M. McCook. Alexander 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.
In April 1861, McCook was appointed colonel of the 1st Ohio Infantry. He served in the Washington defenses and saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run. On 3 September, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded a division in Tennessee. He earned a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the regular army for his part in the capture of Nashville, Tennessee. McCook commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh and in the campaign against Corinth. He was promoted to major general on 17 July 1862.
McCook was given command of the I Corps in the Army of the Ohio. His corps suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. Command of the army was reorganized as his command was 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. The command structure was again reorganized and his corps named the XX Corps. Again, his troops were beaten and driven from the field at the Battle of Chickamauga. He was court-martialed and partially blamed for the disaster at Chickamauga. He was not convicted but relieved of duty in the Army of the Cumberland.
McCook was placed in command of the "Defenses of the Potomac River and Washington" and had charge of all forces defending the capital at the Battle of Fort Stevens when Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early threatened Washington, D.C. The day the battle ended, McCook was once again without a command. At the end of the war, he was given command of the District of Eastern Arkansas. He received brevet promotions to brigadier and major general in the regular army for service throughout the war.
He resigned from the volunteer service in October 1865 and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 26th Infantry in March 1867. He served in Texas, mostly on 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. From 1886 to 1890, he commanded Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the infantry and cavalry school there. 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. In 1898-99, he served on a commission to investigate the United States Department of War as administered during the Spanish-American War. He died in Dayton, Ohio on 12 June 1903.
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