William Winer Cooke | |
|---|---|
 William W. Cooke | |
| Born | (1846-05-29)May 29, 1846 Brantford Township, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | June 25, 1876(1876-06-25) (aged 30) Montana, US |
| Place of Burial | Hamilton Cemetery Hamilton, Ontario |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1863–76 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant BrevetLieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
William Winer Cooke (May 29, 1846 – June 25, 1876) was a military officer in theUnited States Army during theAmerican Civil War and theBlack Hills War. He was theadjutant forGeorge Armstrong Custer and was killed during theBattle of the Little Bighorn.
Cooke was born in Mount Pleasant,Brant County, Ontario, to Alexander and Angeline Cooke. He attended the Brantford Collegiate School and the Central School inHamilton, Ontario.[1] At the age of 14, he moved toBuffalo, New York to continue his studies. After graduating from school, he enlisted in 1863 with the 24th New York Cavalry atNiagara Falls, New York, during the Civil War. After serving as a recruiting officer, he served on the front lines in theIX Corps, commanded byAmbrose Burnside. He was wounded during theSiege of Petersburg. After being released from the hospital, he served on commissary duty. He rose tofirst lieutenant on December 14, 1864, but did not return to front-line duty until March 1865. He was awardedbrevet promotions tocaptain,major, andlieutenant colonel for his meritorious service during the war, the last of his actions occurred at theBattle of Sayler's Creek during theAppomattox Campaign.
After the war, he immediately joined the 1st New York Provisional Cavalry and applied for aRegular Army commission. He was made asecond lieutenant in theU.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment in July 1866, and was promoted tofirst lieutenant a year later atFort Harker in Kansas. In 1868, he participated in theWashita Campaign.
In 1871, he became the regimentaladjutant under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. Cooke became close friends withThomas Custer and was a member of the so-called "Custer Clan" or "Custer Gang", a close-knit group of Custer's friends and relatives. He was an excellent shot and one of the fastest runners of the regiment. Some of his troopers took a dislike to him and called him "The Queen's Own". He was known for hisdundrearies, or long side whiskers, that he always wore.
Cooke was killed at theBattle of the Little Bighorn. His body was found close to his commander. He was the author of the famous "last message" toFrederick Benteen, carried by SergeantJohn Martin, that read:
Benteen. Come On. Big village. Be quick. Bring packs. WW Cooke. P.S. Bring Packs.
Cooke ... was scalped twice--the second scalp being one of his prodigiously long flowing sidewhiskers ...
Cooke was initially interred on the battlefield. A memorial slab marks the approximate spot where he fell. In June 1877, he was reburied in theLittle Bighorn National Cemetery. In August of that year, his family had the remains disinterred again and reburied in the family's plot in the Hamilton Cemetery inHamilton, Ontario.[1]
TheGrand Army of the Republic in Hamilton is named in Cooke's memory and honor.
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