Overview
Alexander McDowell McCook (1831–1903) was a career soldier from Ohio. He was one of the “Fighting McCooks,” a group of fifteen men from the same family who fought for the Union in the Civil War. McCook graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1852 and initially served in frontier conflicts with Native American Indians. He rose to prominence during the Civil War, commanding Union forces in key battles, including Shiloh and Perryville. However, he faced criticism after the Union defeat at Chickamauga. After the war, he continued to serve and was promoted to Major General before retiring in 1895.
Personal Facts
- Full Name: Alexander McDowell McCook
- Born: April 22, 1831, Columbiana County, Ohio
- Parents: Daniel and Martha (Latimer) McCook
- Education: United States Military Academy (1852)
- Occupation: Military officer
- Positions: Major General (USA), Major General (USVA)
- Spouses: Kate Phillips (1863), Annie Colt (1884)
- Died: June 12, 1903, Dayton, Ohio
- Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Biography
Early Life
Alexander McDowell McCook was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, on April 22, 1831. He was the fifth son of Daniel McCook and Martha Latimer (McCook). McCook received an appointment to the United States Military Academy and graduated on July 1, 1852, thirtieth in his class.
U.S. Army Officer
Upon his graduation from West Point, McCook received a brevet commission as a second lieutenant on July 1, 1852. The army stationed McCook first at the Newport Barracks in Kentucky and then at the Jefferson Barracks in Missouri. In 1853, officials sent McCook west, where he scouted and fought against the Apache and the Ute Indians until 1857, during the Apache Wars. On June 30, 1854, while serving in the West, officials promoted McCook to second lieutenant. In 1857, McCook took a leave of absence, and upon his return on February 12, 1858, he served as an assistant instructor of infantry tactics at the United States Military Academy until April 24, 1861.
Union Officer
When the American Civil War began, officials appointed McCook as colonel of the 1st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry on April 16, 1861. After recruiting volunteers and helping organize the unit at Dayton, McCook took part in the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861). Later that year, on September 3, the War Department promoted McCook to brigadier general of volunteers.
Western Theater
In 1862, McCook received a brevet promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the regular army for his participation in the capture of Nashville, Tennessee in February. During the spring, officials placed him in command of the 2nd Division of the Army of the Ohio, and he took part in the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862) and the Siege of Corinth (April 29, 1862-May 30, 1862).
Battle of Perryville
On July 17, 1862, McCook the War Department promoted McCook to major general of volunteers and assigned him to command the 1st Corps of the Army of the Ohio. Serving in that role, he suffered the first of several major setbacks in his career when his troops did not perform well at the Battle of Perryville (October 8, 1862).
Battle of Stones River
In December 1862, the War Department reorganized the Union armies in the Western Theater and placed McCook in command of the Right Wing of the 14th Corps in the newly created Army of the Cumberland. Shortly thereafter, McCook’s command performed poorly once again at the Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863). Afterward, officials reorganized the Army of the Cumberland and gave McCook command of the 20th Corps.
Battle of Chickamauga
During the summer of 1863, McCook’s Corps took part in Major General William Rosecrans’ Chickamauga Campaign, helping drive Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee out of Tennessee. At the Battle of Chickamauga (September 19-20, 1863), however, McCook performed poorly once again, and Confederates drove his troops from the field, inflicting heavy losses. Officials partially blamed McCook for the Union disaster at the Battle of Chickamauga. However, a court-martial exonerated him. Still, officials relieved McCook of his command when they merged the 20th and the 21st Corps to form the 4th Corps commanded by Major General Gordon Granger.
Battle of Fort Stevens
McCook spent the next ten months awaiting orders and a new command. During the summer of 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early launched an offensive in the Shenandoah Valley and threatened Washington, DC. Union officials placed McCook in command of the defenses around the nation’s capital. McCook rose to the occasion and defeated Early’s force at the Battle of Fort Stevens (July 11-July 12, 1864), driving the Rebels back into Virginia. Despite his redemption at Washington, McCook did not have a field command at the end of the Civil War.
Regular Army Duty
After the war, McCook received brevet promotions to brigadier general and major general in the regular army. Officials placed him in command of the District of Eastern Arkansas. McCook mustered out of volunteer service on October 21, 1865, but he remained in the regular army.
On March 5, 1867, the army commissioned McCook as lieutenant colonel of the 26th Infantry and deployed him to Texas, where he served until 1874. From 1875 to 1880, McCook served as the aide-de-camp to the general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, William T. Sherman. On December 15, 1880, officials promoted McCook to colonel of the 6th Infantry. On May 13, 1886, the army appointed McCook as commander of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the infantry and cavalry school. He served in that capacity until August 28, 1890. On July 11 of that year, the army promoted McCook brigadier general. After his stint at Fort Leavenworth, McCook commanded the Department of Arizona from 1890 to 1895. While there, the army promoted him to major general in 1894.
Last Years
McCook retired from the army in 1895 and lived his remaining years in Ohio. He died in Dayton on June 12, 1903, at age seventy-two. McCook is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Fighting McCooks
McCook was a member of the “Fighting McCooks,” fifteen family members who served the Union during the Civil War. McCook’s father, Daniel McCook, and his eight sons who served in the war were known as the “Tribe of Dan.” McCook’s uncle, John McCook, and five of his sons who served in the war were known as the “Tribe of John.” Daniel McCook, along with four of his sons (Latimer, Daniel Jr., Robert, and Charles), died from wounds received during the Civil War. Alexander McCook achieved the highest military ranking among the members of the family.
Accomplishments and Milestones
- 1831 — Born as the fifth son of Daniel and Martha (Latimer) McCook in Columbiana County, Ohio.
- July 1, 1852 — Alexander McDowell McCook graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, ranking 30th in his class, and was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant.
- June 30, 1854 — McCook was promoted to second lieutenant.
- 1853–1857 — He scouted and fought against Apache and Ute Indians in New Mexico.
- 1858–1861 — He served as an assistant instructor of infantry tactics at West Point.
- April 16, 1861 — McCook was appointed colonel of the 1st Ohio Infantry at the start of the Civil War.
- July 21, 1861 — He participated in the First Battle of Bull Run.
- September 3, 1861 — Promoted to brigadier general of volunteers.
- February 1862 — Captured Nashville, earning brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the regular army.
- April 6–7, 1862 — McCook commanded the 2nd Division of the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh.
- April 29–May 30, 1862 — He participated in the Siege of Corinth.
- July 17, 1862 — Promoted to major general of volunteers.
- October 8, 1862 — He commanded the 1st Corps of the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Perryville.
- January 29, 1863 — Married Kate Phillips.
- September 19–20, 1863 — McCook faced partial blame for the Union defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga and was relieved of duty after a court-martial.
- July 11–12, 1864 — He defended Washington, D.C., during the Battle of Fort Stevens.
- 1865 — Ended the Civil War without a field command, receiving brevet promotions to brigadier general and major general in the regular army.
- October 21, 1865 — Resigned from volunteer service.
- March 5, 1867 — Commissioned as lieutenant colonel of the 26th Infantry.
- 1867–1874 — McCook served in Texas.
- 1875–1880 — He served as aide-de-camp to General William T. Sherman.
- December 15, 1880 — Promoted to colonel of the 6th Infantry.
- October 8, 1884 — Married Annie Colt.
- May 13, 1886–August 28, 1890 — Commanded Fort Leavenworth and the infantry and cavalry school.
- July 11, 1890 — Promoted to brigadier general in the regular army.
- 1890–1895 — McCook commanded the Department of Arizona.
- 1894 — Promoted to major general.
- 1895 — Retired from the U.S. Army.
- 1898–1899 — He served on a commission investigating the U.S. Department of War during the Spanish-American War.
- June 12, 1903 — McCook died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 72.
- 1903 — He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
