Cook through Coyle Tavern, Virginia

COOK, Henry F., soldier, killed in battle at Bristow Station, Virginia, 14 October, 1863. He was a native of Mississippi, served as first lieutenant in the Mexican War, with Jefferson Davis's regiment of Mississippi volunteers, distinguished himself in the battle of Monterey, where he was wounded, and commanded a company in the battle of Buena Vista. At the beginning of the Civil War he joined the Confederate Army, and rose by successive steps until he was made a brigadier-general in 1863.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 714.


COOK, Philip, soldier, born in Twiggs county, Georgia, 31 July, 1817. He was educated at Oglethorpe University, studied law at the University of Virginia, was admitted to the bar, and practised his profession in Americus, Georgia In 1859, 1860, and 1863 he served in the state senate. He entered the Confederate service in April, 1861, as a private, and before the end of the war had risen to a brigadier-generalship. In 1865 he was elected to Congress, but was not allowed to take his seat, by reason of the "disability clause," incurred by his taking up arms against the Union. After the repeal of the law creating this clause he was elected to Congress three times, serving from 1 December, 1873 till 3 March, 1879. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 717.


COOKE, Philip St. George, soldier, born near Leesburg, Virginia, 1 June, 1809. After studying at the Academy of Martinsburg, Virginia, entered the U.S. Military Academy, where he was graduated in 1827, and was assigned to the 6th U.S. Infantry. He was stationed for many years on the frontier, and in the Black Hawk War was adjutant of his regiment at the battle of Bad Axe River, 2 August, 1832. He became first lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Dragoons on 4 March, 1833, and captain on 31 May, 1835. He escorted a party of Santa Fé traders to the Arkansas River in 1843, and on 30 June of that year captured a Texan military expedition. During the Mexican War he commanded a Missouri volunteer battalion in California from 1846 till 1847, and in 1848 a regiment in the city of Mexico, having been promoted to major on 16 February, 1847, and brevetted lieutenant-colonel on 20 February, for his conduct in California. Afterward he was engaged in various Indian expeditions, commanding the cavalry in the action at Blue Water, 3 September, 1855. He commanded in Kansas during the troubles there in 1856–57, performing that delicate duty to the satisfaction of all, and was at the head of the cavalry in the Utah Expedition of 1857-8, becoming colonel of the 2d U.S. Dragoons on 14 June, 1858. In 1859 he prepared a new system of cavalry tactics, which was adopted for the service in November, 1861 (revised ed., 1883). In June, 1861, Colonel Cooke published a letter in which he declared that he owed allegiance to the general government rather than to his native state of Virginia. He was promoted to brigadier-general on 12 November, 1861, and commanded all the regular cavalry in the Army of the Potomac during the Penninsular Campaign, particularly in the siege of Yorktown, and the battles of Williamsburg, Gaines's Mills, and Glendale. He sat on courts-martial in 1862–3, commanded the Baton Rouge District till 1864, and till 1866 was general superintendent of the recruiting service. He was at the head of the Department of the Platte in 1866–’7, of that of the Cumberland in 1869-'70, and of the Department of the Lakes from 1870 till 1873. On 29 October, 1873, he was placed on the retired list, having been in active service more than forty-five years. General Cooke has published “Scenes and Adventures in the Army” (Philadelphia, 1856), and “The Conquest of New Mexico California; an Historical and Personal Narrative” (1878). His daughter married General J. E. B. Stuart, the Confederate cavalry leader. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 720.


COOKE, John Esten, author, born in Winchester, Virginia, 3 November, 1830; died near Boyce, Clarke County, Virginia, 27 September, 1886. He left school at sixteen, studied law with his father, and, after practicing about four years, devoted himself to literature. He entered the Confederate Army at the beginning of the Civil War, and served first as a private in the artillery and afterward in the cavalry, being engaged in nearly all the battles in Virginia, most of the time as a member of General J. E. B. Stuart's staff. At Lee's surrender he was inspector-general of the horse-artillery of the Army of  Virginia. His writings relate almost entirely to Virginia, and describe the life, manners, and history of the people of that state. His war-books are records of personal observation and opinion. In a letter written a few months before his death Mr. Cooke says: “I still write stories for such periodicals as are inclined to accept romance, but whether any more of my work in that field will appear in book-form is uncertain. Mr. Howells and the other realists have crowded me out of popular regard as a novelist, and have brought the kind of fiction I write into general disfavor. I do not complain of that, for they are right. They see, as I do, that fiction should faithfully reflect life, and they obey the law, while I cannot. I was born too soon, and am now too old to learn my trade anew. But in literature, as in everything else, advance should be the law, and he who stands still has no right to complain if he is left behind. Besides, the fires of ambition are burned out of me, and I am serenely happy. My wheat-fields are green as I look out from the porch of the Briers, the corn rustles in the wind. and the great trees give me shade upon the lawn. My three children are growing up in such nurture and admonition as their race has always deemed fit, and I am not only content, but very happy, and much too lazy to entertain any other feeling toward my victors than one of warm friendship and sincere approval.” His publications include “Leather Stocking and Silk,” a story (New York, 1854); “The Virginia Comedians” (2 vols., 1854); “The Youth of Jefferson,” based on the letters of that statesman (1854); “Ellie,” a novel (Richmond, Virginia, 1855); “The Last of the Foresters” (New York, 1856); “Henry St. John, Gentleman; a Tale of 1774–75,” sequel to the “Comedians” (1859); “Life of Stonewall Jackson" (Richmond, 1863; enlarged ed., New York, 1876); “Surry of Eagle's Nest,” a picture of military incidents in the Confederate cavalry, in auto-biographical form, purporting to be “from MS. of Colonel Surry” (New York, 1866); “Wearing of the Gray” (1867); “Mohun, or the Last Days of Lee and his Paladins,” sequel to the foregoing (1868); “Fairfax” (1868); “Hilt to Hilt,” a romantic story of 1864 (1869); “Out of the Foam ” (1869); “Hammer and Rapier,” war sketches (1870); “The Heir of Gaymount” (1870); “Life of General R. E. Lee’” (1871); “Dr. Van Dyke,” a story of Virginia in the last century (1872); “Her Majesty the Queen" (Philadelphia, 1873); “Pretty Mrs. Gaston, and other Stories” (New York, 1874); “Justin Harley” (Philadelphia, 1874); “Canolles,” a story of Cornwallis's Virginia Campaign (Detroit, 1877); “Professor Pressensee,” a story (New York, 1878): “Mr. Grantley's Idea,” “Virginia Bohemians,” and “Stories of the Old Dominion” (1879); “Virginia; a History of the People” (Boston, 1883); “My Lady Pokahontas” (1884); and “The Maurice Mystery” (New York, 1885). Besides these, Mr. Cooke wrote several novels not issued in permanent form, and a mass of stories, sketches, and verses for periodicals. The last product of his pen was an article written for this work. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 729-721.


COOKE, John R., entered the army in 1855 as second lieutenant of the 8th U.S. Infantry, became first lieutenant, 28 January, 1861, and, resigning on 30 May, entered the Confederate service, where he rose to the rank of brigadier-general. [Philip St. Georges Cooke’s son.]  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 721.


COOKING. Bread and soup are the great items of a soldier's diet: to make them well is, therefore, an essential part of his instruction. Scurfy and diarrhoea more frequently result from bad cooking than any other cause whatever. Camp ovens may be made in twenty-four hours. One hundred and ninety-six pounds when in dough hold about 1 1 gallons or 90 pounds of water, 2 gallons yeast, and 3 pounds salt, making a mass of 305 pounds, which evaporates in kneading, baking, and cooling about 40 pounds, leaving in bread weighed when stale about 265 pounds. Bread ought not to be burnt, but baked to an equal brown color. The troops ought not to be allowed to eat soft bread fresh from the oven without first toasting it. Fresh meat ought not to be cooked before it has had time to bleed and to cool; and meats will generally be boiled, with a view to soup; and sometimes roasted or baked. Meat may be kept in hot weather by half boiling it; or by exposing it for a few minutes to a thick smoke. To make soup, put into the vessel at the rate of five pints of water to a pound of fresh meat; apply a quick heat, to make it boil promptly; skim off the foam, and then moderate the fire; put in salt according to palate. Add the vegetables of the season one or two hours, and sliced bread some minutes before the simmering is ended. When the broth is sensibly reduced in quantity, that is, after five or six hours cooking, the process will be complete. If a part of the meat be withdrawn before the soup is fully made, the quantity of water must be proportionally less. Hard or dry vegetables, as the bean ration, will be put in the camp kettle much earlier than fresh vegetables. The following receipts for army cooking are taken from Soyer's Culinary Campaign:

SOYER'S HOSPITAL DIETS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN THE ACCOMPANYING RECEIPTS 19 FULLY RECOGNIZED; IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY THAT TROOPS SHOULD BE SUPPLIED WITH SCALES, AND WITH MEASURES FOR LIQUIDS.

No.1. SEMI-STEWED MUTTON AND BARLEY. SOUP FOR 100 MEN. Put in a convenient-sized caldron 130 pints of cold water, 70 lbs. of meat, or about that quantity, 12 lbs. of plain mixed vegetables, (the best that can be obtained,) 9 lbs. 6 oz. of barley, 1 lb. 7 oz. of salt, 1 Ib. 4 oz. of flour, 1 lb. 4 oz. of sugar, 1 oz. of pepper. Put all the ingredients into the pan at once, except the flour; set it on the fire, and when beginning to boil, diminish the heat, and simmer gently for two hours and a half; take the joints of meat out, and keep them warm in the orderly's pan; add to the soup your flour, which you have mixed with enough water to form a light batter; stir well together with a large spoon; boil another half-hour, skim off the fat, arid serve the soup and meat separate. The meat may be put back into the soup for a few minutes to warm again prior to serving. The soup should be stirred now and then while making, to prevent burning or sticking to the bottom of the caldron. The joints are cooked whole, and afterwards cut up in different messes; being cooked this way, in a rather thick stock, the meat becomes more nutritious.

Note. The word “ about” is applied to the half and full diet, which varies the weight of the meat; but lb. of mutton will always make a pint of good soup: 3 lbs. of mixed preserved vegetables must be used when fresh are not to be obtained, and put in one hour and a half prior to serving, instead of at first; they will then show better in the soup, and still be well done. All the following receipts may be increased to large quantities, but by all means closely follow the weight and measure.

No. 2. BEEF SOUP. Proceed the same as for mutton, only leave the meat in till serving, as it will take longer than mutton. The pieces are not to be above 4 or 5 lbs. weight; and for a change, half rice may be introduced; the addition of 2 lbs more will make it thicker and more nutritive; Ib. of curry powder will make an excellent change also. To vary the same, half a pint of burnt sugar water may be added it will give the soup a very rich brown color.

No. 3 BEEF TEA. RECEIPT FOR six PINTS. Cut 3 lbs. of beef into pieces the size of walnuts, and chop up the bones, if any; put it into a convenient-sized kettle, with Ib. of mixed vegetables, such as onions, leeks, celery, turnips, carrots, (or one or two of these, if all are not to be obtained,) 1 oz. of salt, a little pepper, 1 teaspoonful of sugar, 2 oz. of butter, half a pint of water. Set it on a sharp fire for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, stirring now and then with a spoon, till it forms a rather thick gravy at bottom, but not brown: then add 7 pints of hot or cold water, but hot is preferable; when boiling, let it simmer gently for an hour; skim off all the fat, strain it through a sieve, and serve.

No. 3A. ESSENCE OF BEEF TEA. For camp hospitals. “ Quarter pound tin case of essence.” If in winter set it near the fire to melt; pour the contents in a stewpan and twelve times the case full of water over it, hot or cold; add to it two or three slices of onion, a sprig or two of parsley, a leaf or two of celery, if handy, two teaspoon fuls of salt, one of sugar; pass through a colander and serve. If required stronger, eight cases of water will suffice, decreasing the seasoning in proportion. In case you have no vegetables, sugar, or pepper, salt alone will do, but the broth will not be so succulent.

No. 4. THICK BEEF TEA. Dissolve a good teaspoonful of arrow-root in a gill of water, and pour it into the beef tea twenty minutes before passing through the sieve it is then ready.

No. 5. STRENGTHENING BEEF TEA WITH CALVES-FOOT JELLY, OR ISINGLASS. Add 1/4 oz. calves-foot gelatine to the above quantity of beef tea previous to serving, when cooking.

No. 6. MUTTON AND VEAL TEA. Mutton and veal will make good tea by proceeding precisely the same as above. The addition of a little  aromatic herbs is always desirable. If no fresh vegetables are at hand, use 2 oz. of mixed preserved vegetables to any of the above receipts. No.

7. CHICKEN BROTH. Put in a stewpan a fowl, 3 pints of water, 2 teaspoonfuls of rice, 1 teaspoonful of salt, a middle-sized onion, or 2 oz. of mixed vegetables; boil the whole gently for three-quarters of an hour: if an old fowl, simmer from one hour and a half to two hours, adding 1 pint more water; skim off the fat and serve. A, small fowl will do.

Note. A light mutton broth may be made precisely the same, by using a pound and a half of scrag of mutton instead of fowl. For thick mutton broth proceed as for thick beef tea, omitting the rice; a table-spoonful of burnt sugar water will give a rich color to the broth.

No. 8. PLAIN BOILED RICE. Put two quarts of water in a stew-pan, with a teaspoonful of salt; when boiling, add to it ½ Ib. of rice, well washed; boil for ten minutes, or till each grain becomes rather soft; drain it into a colander, slightly grease the pot with butter, and put the rice back into it; let it swell slowly for about twenty minutes near the fire, or in a slow oven; each grain will then swell up, and bo well separated; it is then ready for use.


No. 9. SWEET RICE. Add to the plain boiled rice 1 oz. of butter, 2 tablespoonfuls of sugar, a little cinnamon, a quarter of a pint of milk; stir it with a fork, and serve; a little currant jelly or jam may be added to the rice.

No. 10. RICE WITH GRAVY. Add to the rice 4 tablespoonfuls of the essence of beef, a little butter, if fresh, half a teaspoonful of salt; stir together with a fork, and serve. A teaspoonful of Soyer's Sultana Sauce, or relish, will make it very wholesome and palatable, as well as invigorating to a fatigued stomach.

No. 11. PLAIN OATMEAL. Put in a pan 1 Ib. of oatmeal, 1J oz. of sugar, half a teaspoonful of salt, and 3 pints of water; boil slowly for twenty minutes, “ stirring continually,” and serve. A quarter of a pint of boiled milk, an ounce of butter, and a little pounded cinnamon or spice added previous to serving is a good variation. This receipt has been found most useful at the commencement of dysentery by the medical authorities. No.

12. CALVES-FOOT JELLY. Put in a proper-sized stewpan 2 oz. of calves-foot gelatine, 4 oz. of white sugar, 4 whites of eggs and shells, the peel of a lemon, the juice of three middle-sized lemons, half a pint of Marsala wine; beat all well together with the egg-beater for a few minutes, then add 4 pints of cold water; set it on a slow fire, and keep whipping it till boiling. Set it on the corner of the stove, partly covered with the lid, upon which you place a few pieces of burning charcoal; let it simmer gently for ten minutes, and strain it through a jelly-bag. It is then ready to put in the ice or some cool place. Sherry will do if Marsala is not at hand. For orange jelly use only 1 lemon and 2 oranges. Any delicate flavor may be introduced.

JELLY STOCK, made from calves' feet, requires to be made the day previous to being used, requiring to be very hard to extract the fat. Take two calf's feet, cut them up, and boil in three quarts of water; as soon as it boils remove it to the corner of the fire, and simmer for five hours, keeping it skimmed, pass through a hair sieve into a basin, and let it remain until quite hard, then remove the oil and fat, and wipe the top dry. Place in a stewpan half a pint of water, one of sherry, half a pound of lump sugar, the juice of four lemons, the rinds of two, and the whites and shells of five eggs; whisk until the sugar is melted, then add the jelly, place it on the fire, and whisk until boiling, pass it through a jelly-bag, pouring that back again which comes through first until quite clear; it is then ready for use, by putting it in moulds or glasses. Vary the flavor according to fancy. No.

13. SAGO JELLY. Put into a pan 3 oz. of sago, 1 1/2 oz. of sugar, half a lemon-peel cut very thin, 1/4 teaspoonful of ground cinnamon, or a small stick of the same; put to it 3 pints of water and a little salt; boil ten minutes, or rather longer, stirring continually, until rather thick, then add a little port, sherry, or Marsala wine; mix well, and serve hot or cold.

No. 14. ARROWROOT MILK. Put into a pan 4 oz. of arrowroot, 3 oz. of sugar, the peel of half a lemon, teaspoonful of salt, 2 pints of milk; set it on the fire, stir round gently, boil for ten minutes, and serve. If no lemons at hand, a little essence of any kind will do. When short of milk, use half water; half an ounce of fresh butter is an improvement before serving. If required thicker, put a little milk.

No. 15. THICK ARROWROOT PANADA. Put in a pan 5 oz. of arrow-root, 2-J oz. of white sugar, the peel of half a lemon, a quarter of a tea-spoonful of salt, 4 pints of water; mix all well, set on the fire, boil for ten minutes; it is then ready. The juice of a lemon is an improvement; a gill of wine may also be introduced, and ^ oz. of calves-foot gelatine previously dissolved in water will be strengthening. Milk, however, is preferable, if at hand.

No. 16. ARROWROOT WATER. Put into a pan 3 oz. of arrowroot, 2 oz. of white sugar, the peel of a lemon, teaspoonful of salt, 4 pints of water; mix well, set on the fire, boil for ten minutes. It is then ready to serve either hot or cold.

No. 17. RICE WATER. Put 7 pints of water to boil, add to it 2 ounces of rice washed, 2 oz. of sugar, the peel of two-thirds of a lemon; boil gently for three-quarters of an hour; it will reduce to 5 pints; strain through a colander; it is then ready. The rice may be left in the beverage or made into a pudding, or by the addition of a little sugar or jam, will be found very good for either children or invalids.

No. 18. BARLEY WATER. Put in a saucepan 7 pints of water, 2 oz. of barley, which stir now and then while boiling; add 2 oz. of white sugar, the rind of half a lemon, thinly peeled; let it boil gently for about two hours, without covering it; pass it through a sieve or colander; it is then ready. The barley and lemon may be left in it.

No. 19. SOYER'S PLAIN LEMONADE. Thinly peel the third part of a lemon, which put into a basin with 2 tablespoonfuls of sugar; roll the lemon with your hand upon the table to soften it; cut it into two, lengthwise, squeeze the juice over the peel, &c., stir round for a minute with a spoon to form a sort of syrup; pour over a pint of water, mix well, and remove the pips; it is then ready for use. If a very large lemon, and full of juice, and very fresh, you may make a pint and a half to a quart, adding sugar and peel in proportion to the increase of water. The juice only of the lemon and sugar will make lemonade, but will then be deprived of the aroma which the rind contains, the said rind being generally thrown away.

No. 20. SEMI-CITRIC LEMONADE. RECEIPT FOR 50 PINTS. Put 1 oz. of citric acid to dissolve in a pint of water, peel 20 lemons thinly, and put the peel in a large vessel, with 3 lbs. 2 oz. of white sugar well broken; roll each lemon on the table to soften it, which will facilitate the extraction of the juice; cut them into two, and press out the juice into a colander or sieve, over the peel and sugar, then pour half a pint of water through the colander, so as to leave no juice remaining; triturate the sugar, juice, and peel together for a minute or two with a spoon, so as to form a sort of syrup, and extract the aroma from the peel and the dissolved citric acid; mix all well together, pour on 50 pints of cold water, stir well together; it is then ready. A little ice in summer is a great addition.

No. 21. SOYER'S CHEAP CRIMEAN LEMONADE. Put into a basin 2 tablespoonfuls of white or brown sugar, a tablespoonful of lime juice, mix well together for one minute, add 1 pint of water, and the beverage is ready. A drop of rum will make a good variation, as lime juice and rum are daily issued to the soldiers.

No. 22. TARTARIC LEMONADE. Dissolve 1 oz. of crystallized tartaric acid in a pint of cold water, which put in a large vessel; when dissolved, add 1 Ib. 9 oz. of white or brown sugar the former is preferable; mix well to form a thick syrup; add to it 24 pints of cold water, slowly mixing well; it is then ready. It may be strained through either a colander or a jelly-bag; if required very light, add 5 pints more water, and sugar in proportion; if citric acid be used, put only 20 pints of water to each ounce.

No. 23. CHEAP PLAIN RICE PUDDING, FOR CAMPAIGNING, in which no eggs or milk are required: important in the field. Put on the fire, in a moderate-sized saucepan, 12 pints of water; when boiling, add to it 1 Ib. of rice or 16 tablespoonfuls, 4 oz. of brown sugar or 4 tablespoonfuls, 1 large teaspoonful of salt, and the rind of a lemon thinly peeled; boil gently for half an hour, then strain all the water from the rice, keeping it as dry as possible. The rice water is then ready for drinking, either warm or cold. The juice of a lemon may be introduced, which will make it more palatable and refreshing.

THE PUDDING. Add to the rice 3 oz. of sugar, 4 tablespoonfuls of flour, half a teaspoonful of pounded cinnamon; stir it on the fire carefully for five or ten minutes; put it in a tin or pie-dish, and bake. By boiling the rice a quarter of an hour longer, it will be very good to eat without baking. Cinnamon may be omitted.

No. 23 A. BATTER PUDDING. Break two fresh eggs in a basin, beat them well, add one tablespoonful and a half of flour, which beat up with your eggs with a fork until no lumps remain; add a gill of milk, a teaspoonful of salt, butter a teacup or a basin, pour in your mixture, put some water in a stewpan, enough to immerge half way up the cup or basin in water; when boiling, put in your cup or basin and boil twenty minutes, or till your pudding is well set; pass a knife to loosen it, turn out on a plate, pour pounded sugar and a pat of fresh butter over, and serve. A little lemon, cinnamon, or a drop of any essence may be introduced. A little light melted butter, sherry, and sugar may be poured over. If required more delicate, add a little less flour. It may be served plain

No. 24. BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING. Butter a tart-dish well, and sprinkle some currants all round it, then lay in a few slices of bread and butter; boil one pint of milk, pour it on two eggs well whipped, and then on the bread and butter; bake it in a hot oven for half an hour. Currants may be omitted.

No. 25. BREAD PUDDING. Boil one pint of milk, with a piece of cinnamon and lemon-peel; pour it on two ounces of bread crumbs; then add two eggs, half an ounce of currants, and a little sugar: steam it in a buttered mould for one hour.


No. 26. CUSTARD PUDDING. Boil one pint of milk, with a small piece of lemon-peel and half a bay-leaf, for three minutes; then pour these on to three eggs, mix it with one ounce of sugar well together, and pour it into a buttered mould: steam it twenty-five minutes in a stewpan with some water, turn out on a plate and serve.

No. 27. RICH RICE PUDDING. Put in -J Ib. of rice in a stewpan, washed, 3 pints of milk, 1 pint of water, 3 oz. of sugar, 1 lemon peel, 1 oz. of fresh butter; boil gently half an hour, or until the rice is tender; add 4 eggs, well beaten, mix well, and bake quickly for half an hour, and serve: it may be steamed if preferred.

No. 28. STEWED MACARONI. Put in a stewpan 2 quarts of water, half a tablespoonful of salt, 2 oz. of butter; set on the fire; when boiling, add 1 Ib. of macaroni, broken up rather small; when boiled very soft, throw off* the water; mix well into the macaroni a tablespoonful of flour, add enough milk to make it of the consistency of thin melted butter; boil gently twenty minutes; add in a tablespoonful of either brown or white sugar, or honey, and serve. A little cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon-peel, or orange-flower water may be introduced to impart a flavor; stir quick. A gill ot milk or cream may now be thrown in three minutes before serving. Nothing can be more light and nutritious than macaroni done this way. If no milk, use water.

No. 29. MACARONI PUDDING. Put 2 pints of water to boil, add to it 2 oz. of macaroni, broken in small pieces; boil till tender, drain off the water and add half a tablespoonful of flour, 2 oz. of white sugar, a quarter of a pint of milk, and boil together for ten minutes; beat an egg up, pour it to the other ingredients, a nut of butter; mix well and bake, or steam. It can be served plain, and may be flavored with either cinnamon, lemon, or other essences, as orange-flower water, vanilla, &c.

No. 30. SAGO PUDDING. Put in a pan 4 oz. of sago, 2 oz. of sugar, half a lemon-peel or a little cinnamon, a small pat of fresh butter, if handy, half a pint of milk; boil for a few minutes, or until rather thick, stirring all the while; beat up 2 eggs and mix quickly with the same; it is then ready for either baking or steaming, or may be served plain.

No. 31. TAPIOCA PUDDING. Put in a pan 2 oz. of tapioca, 1 pint of milk, 1 oz. of white or brown sugar, a little salt, set on the fire, boil gently for fifteen minutes, or until the tapioca is tender, stirring now and then to prevent its sticking to the bottom, or burning; then add two eggs well beaten; steam or bake, and serve. It will take about twenty minutes steaming, or a quarter of an hour baking slightly. Flavor with either lemon, cinnamon, or any other essence.

No. 32. BOILED RICE SEMI-CURRIED, FOR THE PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF DIARRHCEA. Put 1 quart of water in a pot or saucepan; when boiling, wash a Ib. of rice and throw it into the water; boil fast for ten minutes; drain your rice in a colander, put it back in the saucepan, which you have slightly greased with butter; let it swell slowly near the fire, or in a slow oven till tender; each grain will then be light and well separated. Add to the above a small tablespoonful of aromatic sauce, called “ Soyer's Relish or Sultana Sauce,” with a quarter of a teaspoonful of curry powder; mix together with a fork lightly, and serve. This quantity will be sufficient for two or three people, according to the prescriptions of the attending physician.

No. 33. FIGS AND APPLE BEVERAGE. Have 2 quarts of water boiling, into which throw 6 dry figs previously opened, and 2 apples, cut into six or eight slices each; let the whole boil together twenty minutes; then pour them into a basin to cool; pass through a sieve; drain the figs, which will be good to eat with a little sugar or jam.

No. 34. STEWED FRENCH PLUMS. Put 12 large or 18 small-size French plums, soak them for half an hour, put in a stewpan with a spoonful of brown sugar, a gill of water, a little cinnamon, and some thin rind of lemon; let them stew gently twenty minutes, then put them in a basin till cold with a little of the juice. A small glass of either port, sherry, or claret is a very good addition. The syrup is excellent.

No. 35. FRENCH HERB BROTH. This is a very favorite beverage in France, as well with people in health as with invalids, especially in spring, when the herbs are young and green. Put a quart of water to boil, having previously prepared about 40 leaves of sorrel, a cabbage lettuce, and 10 sprigs of chervil, the whole well washed; when the water is boiling, throw in the herbs, with the addition of a teaspoonful of salt, and oz. of fresh butter; cover the saucepan close, and let simmer a few minutes, then strain it through a sieve or colander. This is to be drunk cold, especially in the spring of the year, after the change from winter. I generally drink about a quart per day for a week at that time; but if for sick people, it must be made less strong of herbs, and taken a little warm. To prove that it is wholesome, we have only to refer to the instinct which teaches dogs to eat grass at that season of the year. I do not pretend to say that it would suit persons in every malady, because the doctors are to decide upon the food and beverage of their patients, and study its changes as well as change their medicines; but I repeat that this is most useful and refreshing for the blood.

No. 36. BROWNING FOR SOUPS, &c. Put lb. of moist sugar into an iron pan and melt it over a moderate fire till quite black, stirring it continually, which will take about twenty-five minutes: it must color by degrees, as too sudden a heat will make it bitter; then add 2 quarts of water, and in ten minutes the sugar will be dissolved. You may then bottle it for use. It will keep good for a month, and will always be found very useful.

No. 37. TOAST-AND-WATER. Cut a piece of crusty bread, about a I Ib. in weight, place it upon a toasting-fork, and hold it about six inches from the fire; turn it often, and keep moving it gently until of a light-yellow color, then place it nearer the fire, and when of a good brown chocolate color, put it in a jug and pour over 3 pints of boiling water; cover the jug until cold, then strain it into a clean jug, and it is ready for use. Never leave the toast in it, for in summer it would cause fermentation in a short time.

Baked Apple Toast-and-Water. A piece of apple, slowly toasted till it gets quite black and added to the above, makes a very nice and refreshing drink for invalids.

Apple Rice Water. Half a pound of rice, boiled in the above until in pulp, passed through a colander, and drunk when cold. All kinds of fruit may be done the same way. Figs and French plums are excellent; also raisins. A little ginger, if approved of, may be used.

Apple Barley Water. A quarter of a pound of pearl barley instead of toast added to the above, and boil for one hour, is also a very nice drink,

Citronade. Put a gallon of water on to boil, cut up one pound of apples, each one into quarters, two lemons in thin slices, put them in the water, and boil them until they can be pulped, pass the liquor through a colander, boil it up again with half a pound of brown sugar, skim, and bottle for use, taking care not to cork the bottle, and keep it in a cool place.

For Spring Drink. Rhubarb, in the same quantities, and done in the same way as apples, adding more sugar, is very cooling. Also green gooseberries. For Summer Drink. One pound of red currants, bruised with some raspberry, half a pound of sugar added to a gallon of cold water, well stirred, and allowed to settle. The juice of a lemon.

Mulberry. The same, adding a little lemon-peel. A little cream of tartar or citric acid added to these renders them more cooling in summer and spring.

Plain Lemonade. Cut in very thin slices three lemons, put them in a basin, add half a pound of sugar, either white or brown; bruise all together, add a gallon of water, and stir well. It is then ready. FIG. 105.

French Plum Water. Boil 3 pints of water; add in 6 or 8 dried plums previously split, 2 or 3 slices of lemon, a spoonful of honey 01 sugar; boil half an hour, and serve. For Fig, Date, and Raisin Water, proceed as above, adding the juice of half a lemon to any of the above. If for fig water, use 6 figs. Any quantity of the above fruits may be used with advantage in rice, barley, or arrowroot water.

EFFERVESCENT BEVERAGES. Raspberry Water. Put 2 tablespoonfuls of vinegar into a large glass, pour in half a pint of water; mix well.

Pine-Apple Syrup. Three tablespoonfuls to a pint.

Currant Syrup. Proceed the same.

Syrup of Orgeat. The same.

FIELD AND BARRACK COOKERY FOR THE ARMY, BY THE USE OF SOYER'S NEW FIELD STOVE, NOW ADOPTED BY THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES. Each stove will consume not more than from 12 to 15 lbs. of fuel, and allowing 20 stoves to a regiment, the consumption would be 300 lbs. per thousand men. Coal will burn with the same advantage. Salt beef, pork, Irish stew, stewed beef, tea, coffee, cocoa, &c., can be prepared in these stoves, and with the same economy. They can also be fitted with an apparatus for baking, roasting, and steaming.

No. 1. RECEIPT TO COOK SALT MEAT FOR FIFTY MEN. 1. Put 50 lbs. of meat in the boiler. 2. Fill with water, and let soak all night. 3. Next morning wash the meat well 4. Fill with fresh water, and boil gently three hours, and serve. Skim off the fat, which, when cold, is an excellent substitute for butter. For salt pork proceed as above or boil half beef and half pork the pieces of beef may be smaller than the pork, requiring a little longer time doing. Dumplings, No. 21, may be added to either pork, or beef in proportion; and when pork is properly soaked, the liquor will make a very good soup. The large yellow peas, as used by the navy, may be introduced; it is important to have them, as they are a great improvement. When properly soaked, French haricot beans and lentils may also be used to advantage. By the addition of 5 pounds of split peas, half a pound of brown sugar, 2 tablespoonfuls of pepper, 10 onions; simmer gently till in pulp, remove the fat and serve; broken biscuit may be introduced. This will make an excellent mess.

No. 1A. HOW TO SOAK AND PLAIN-BOIL THE RATIONS OF SALT BEEF AND PORK, ON LAND OR AT SEA. To each pound of meat allow about a pint of water. Do not have the pieces above 3 or 4 lbs. in weight. Let it soak for 7 or 8 hours, or all night if possible. Wash each piece well with your hand in order to extract as much salt as possible. It is then ready for cooking. If less time be allowed, cut the pieces smaller and proceed the same, or parboil the meat for 20 minutes in the above quantity of water, which throw off and add fresh. Meat may be soaked in sea water, but by all means boiled in fresh when possible. I should advise, at sea, to have a perforated iron box made, large enough to contain half a ton or more of meat, which box will ascend and descend by pulleys; have also a frame made on which the box might rest when lowered overboard, the meat being placed outside the ship on a level with the water, the night before using; the water beating against the meat through the perforations will extract all the salt. Meat may be soaked in sea water, but by all means washed.

No 2. SOYER'S ARMY SOUP FOR FIFTY MEN. 1. Put in the boiler 60 pints, 7 gallons, or 5 camp kettles of water. 2. Add to it 50 lbs. of meat, either beef or mutton. 3. The rations of preserved or fresh vegetables. 4. Ten small tablespoonfuls of salt. 5. Simmer three hours and serve. When rice is issued, put it in when boiling. Three pounds will be sufficient. About eight pounds of fresh vegetables. Or four squares from a cake of preserved vegetables. A tablespoonful of pepper, if handy. Skim off the fat, which, when cold, is an excellent substitute for butter.

No. 2A. SALT PORK WITH MASHED PEAS, FOR ONE HUNDRED MEN. Put in two stoves 50 lbs. of pork each, divide 24 lbs. in four pudding-cloths, rather loosely tied; putting to boil at the same time as your pork, let all boil gently till done, say about two hours; take out the pudding and peas, put all the meat in one caldron, remove the liquor from the other pan, turning back the peas in it, add two teaspoonfuls of pepper, a pound of the fat, and with the wooden spatula smash the peas and serve both. The addition of about half a pound of flour, and two quarts of liquor, boiled ten minutes, makes a great improvement. Six sliced onions, fried and added to it, make it very delicate.

No. 3. STEWED SALT BEEF AND PORK. For a company of one hundred men, or a regiment of one thousand men. Put in a boiler, of well soaked-beef 30 lbs., cut in pieces of a quarter of a pound each, 20 lbs. of pork, 1 Ib. of sugar, 8 lbs. of onions, sliced, 25 quarts of water, 4 lbs. of rice. Simmer gently for three hours, skim the fat off the top, and serve.

Note. How to soak the meat for the above mess: Put 50 lbs. of meat in each boiler, having filled them with water, and let soak all night; and prior to using it, wash it and squeeze with your hands, to extract the salt. In case the meat is still too salt, boil it for twenty minutes, throw away the water, and put fresh to your stew. By closely following the above receipt you will have an excellent dish.

No. 4. SOYER'S FOOD FOR ONE HUNDRED MEN, USING TWO STOVES. Cut or chop 50 lbs. of fresh beef in pieces of about a 1/4 lb. each; put in the boiler, with 10 tablespoonfuls of salt, two tablespoonfuls of pepper, four tablespoonfuls of sugar, onions 7 lbs. cut in slices: light the fire now, and then stir the meat with a spatula, let it stew from 20 to 30 minutes, or till it forms a thick gravy, then add a pound and a half of flour; mix well together, put in the boiler 18 quarts of water, stir well for a minute or two, regulate the stove to a moderate heat, and let simmer for about two hours. Mutton, pork, or veal can be stewed in a similar manner, but will take half an hour less cooking.

Note. A pound of rice may be added with great advantage, ditto plain dumplings, ditto potatoes, as well as mixed vegetables. For a regiment of 1,000 men use 20 stoves.

No. 5. PLAIN IRISH STEW FOR FIFTY MEN. Cut 50 lbs. of mutton into pieces of a quarter of a pound each, put them in the pan, add 8 lbs. of large onions, 12 lbs. of whole potatoes, 8 tablespoonfuls of salt, 3 tablespoonfuls of pepper; cover all with water, giving about half a pint to each pound; then light the fire; one hour and a half of gentle ebullition will make a most excellent stew; mash some of the potatoes to thicken the gravy, and serve. Fresh beef, veal, or pork will also make a good stew. Beef takes two hours doing. Dumplings may be added half an hour before done.

No. 6. To COOK FOR A REGIMENT OF A THOUSAND MEN. Place twenty stoves in a row, in the open air or under cover. Put 30 quarts of water in each boiler, 50 lbs. of ration meat, 4 squares from a cake of dried vegetables or, if fresh mixed vegetables are issued, 12 lbs. weight 10 small tablespoonfuls of salt, 1 ditto of pepper; light the fire, simmer gently from two hours to two hours and a half, skim the fat from the top, and serve. It will require only four cooks per regiment, the provisions and water being carried to the kitchen by fatigue parties; the kitchen being central, instead of the kitchen going to each company, each company sends two men to the kitchen with a pole to carry the meat.

No. 7. SALT PORK AND PUDDINGS WITH CABBAGE AND POTATOES. Put 25 lbs. of salt pork in each boiler, with 50 lbs. from which you have extracted the large bones, cut in dice, and made into puddings; when on the boil, put five puddings in each, boil rather fast for two hours. You have peeled 12 lbs. of potatoes and put in a net in each caldron; put also 2 winter cabbages in nets, three-quarters of an hour before your pudding is done; divide the pork, pudding, and cabbage, in proportion, or let fifty of the men have pudding that day and meat the other; remove the fat, and serve. The liquor will make very good soup by adding peas or rice, as No. 1. For the pudding-paste put one-quarter of a pound of dripping, or beef or mutton suet, to every pound of flour you use; roll your paste tor each half an inch thick, put a pudding-cloth in a basin, flour round, lay in your paste, add your meat in proportion; season with pepper and a minced onion; close your pudding in a cloth, and boil. This receipt is more applicable to barrack and public institutions than a camp. Fresh meat of any kind may be done the same, and boiled with either salt pork or beef.

No. 8. TURKISH PILAFF FOR ONE HUNDRED MEN. Put in the caldron 2 lbs. of fat, which you have saved from salt pork, add to it 4 lbs. of peeled and sliced onions; let them fry in the fat for about ten minutes; add in then 12 lbs. of rice, cover the rice over with water, the rice being submerged two inches, add to it 7 tablespoonfuls of salt, and 1 of pepper; let simmer gently for about an hour, stirring it with a spatula occasionally to prevent it burning, but when commencing to boil, a very little fire ought to be kept under. Each grain ought to be swollen to the full size of rice, and separate. In the other stove put fat and onions the same quantity with the same seasoning; cut the flesh of the mutton, veal, pork, or beef from the bone, cut in dice of about 2 oz. each, put in the pan with the fat and onions, set it going with a very sharp fire, having put in 2 quarts of water; steam gently, stirring occasionally for about half an hour, till forming rather a rich thick gravy. When both the rice and meat are done, take half the rice and mix with the meat, and then the remainder of the meat and rice, and serve. Save the bones for soup for the following day. Salt pork or beef, well soaked, may be used omitting the salt. Any kind of vegetables may be frizzled with the onions.

No. 9. BAKING AND ROASTING WITH THE FIELD STOVE. By the removal of the caldron, and the application of a false bottom put over the fire, bread bakes extremely well in the oven, as well as meat, potatoes, puddings, &c. Bread might be baked in oven at every available opportunity at a trifling cost of fuel. The last experiment I made with one was a piece of beef weighing about 25 lbs., a large Yorkshire pudding, and about 10 lbs. of potatoes, the whole doing at considerably under one pennyworth of fuel, being a mixture of coal and coke; the whole was done to perfection, and of a nice brown color. Any kind of meat would, of course, roast the same.

Baking infixed Oven. In barracks, or large institutions, where an oven is handy, I would recommend that a long iron trough be made, four feet in length, with a two-story movable grating in it, the meat on the top of the upper one giving a nice elevation to get the heat from the roof, and the potatoes on the grating under, and a Yorkshire pudding at the bottom. Four or five pieces of meat may be done on one trough. If no pudding is made, add a quart more water.

No. 10. FRENCH BEEF SOUP, OR POT-ATJ-FEU, CAMP FASHION. FOR THE ORDINARY CANTEEN-PAN. Put in the canteen saucepan 6 lbs. of beef, cut in two or three pieces, bones included, f Ib. of plain mixed vegetables, as onions, carrots, turnips, celery, leeks, or such of these as can be obtained, or 3 oz. of preserved in cakes, as now given to the troops; 3 teaspoonfuls of salt, 1 teaspoonful of pepper, 1 teaspoonful of sugar, if handy; 8 pints of water, let it boil gently three hours, remove some of the fat, and serve. The addition of 1 Ib. of bread cut into slices, or 1 lb. of broken biscuit, well soaked in the broth, will make a very nutritious soup; skimming is not required.

No. 11. SEMI-FRYING, CAMP FASHION, CHOPS, STEAKS, AND ALL KINDS OF MEAT. If it is difficult to broil to perfection, it is considerably more so to cook meat of any kind in a frying-pan. Place your pan on the fire for a minute or so, wipe it very clean; when the pan is very hot, add in it either fat or butter, but the fat from salt and ration meat is preferable; the fat will immediately get very hot; then add the meat you are going to cook, turn it several times to have it equally done; season to each pound a small teaspoonful of salt, quarter that of pepper, and serve. Any sauce or maitre-d'hotel butter may be added. A few fried onions in the remaining fat, with the addition of a little flour to the onion, a quarter of a pint of water, two tablespoonfuls of vinegar, a few chopped pickles or picalilly, will be very relishing.

No.11 A. TEA FOR EIGHTY MEN, which often constitutes a whole company. One boiler will, with ease, make tea for eighty men, allowing a pint each man. Put forty quarts of water to boil, place the rations of tea in a fine net, very loose, or in a large perforated ball; give one minute to boil, take out the fire, if too much, shut down the cover; in ten minutes it is ready to serve.

No. 12. COFFEE A LA ZOUAVE FOR A MESS OF TEN SOLDIERS, as made in the camp, with the canteen saucepan holding 10 pints. Put 9 pints of water into a canteen saucepan on the fire; when boiling add 7 oz. of coffee, which forms the ration, mix them well together with a spoon or a piece of wood, leave on the fire for a few minutes longer, or until just beginning to boil. Take it off and pour in 1 pint of cold water, let the whole remain for ten minutes or a little longer. The dregs of the coffee will fall to the bottom, and your coffee will be clear. Pour it from one vessel to the other, leaving the dregs at the bottom, add your ration sugar or 2 teaspoonfuls to the pint; if any milk is to be had, make 2 pints of coffee less; add that quantity of milk to your coffee, the former may be boiled previously, and serve. This is a very good way for making coffee even in any family, especially a numerous one, using 1 oz. to the quart if required stronger. For a company of eighty men use the field-stove and four times the quantity of ingredients.

No. 13. COFFEE, TURKISH FASHION. “When the water is about to boil add the coffee and sugar, mix well as above, let it boil, and serve. The grounds of coffee will in a few seconds fall to the bottom of the cups. The Turks wisely leave it there, I would advise every one in camp to do the same.

No 14. COCOA FOR EIGHTY MEN. Break eighty portions of ration cocoa in rather small pieces, put them in the boiler, with five or six pints of water, light the fire, stir the cocoa round till melted, and forming a pulp not too thick, preventing any lumps forming, add to it the remaining water, hot or cold; add the ration sugar, and when just boiling, it is ready for serving. If short of cocoa in campaigning, put about sixty rations, and when in pulp, add half a pound of flour or arrowroot.

EASY AND EXCELLENT WAY OF COOKING IN EARTHEN PANS. A Very favorite and plain dish amongst the convalescent and orderlies at Scutari was the following: Cut any part of either beef (cheek or tail), veal, mutton, or pork, in fact any hard part of the animal, in 4-oz. slices; have ready for each 4 or 5 onions and 4 or 5 pounds of potatoes cut in slices; put a layer of potatoes at the bottom of the pan, then a layer of meat, season to each pound 1 teaspoonful of salt, quarter one of pepper, and some onion you have already minced; then lay in layers of meat and potatoes alternately till full; put in 2 pints of water, lay on the lid, close the bar, lock the pot, bake two hours, and serve. Remove some of the fat from the top, if too much; a few dumplings, as

No. 21, in it will also be found excellent. By adding over each layer a little flour it makes a rich thick sauce. Half fresh meat and salt ditto will also be found excellent.

SERIES OF SMALL RECEIPTS FOR A SQUAD, OUTPOST, OR PICKET OF MEN, which may be increased in proportion of companies.

No. 15. Camp Soup. Put half a pound of salt pork in a saucepan, two ounces of rice, two pints and a half of cold water, and, when boiling, let simmer another hour, stirring once or twice; break in six ounces of biscuit, let soak ten minutes; it is then ready, adding one teaspoonful of sugar, and a quarter one of pepper, if handy.

No. 16. Beef Soup. Proceed as above, boil an hour longer, adding a pint more water.

Note. Those who can obtain any of the following vegetables will find them a great improvement to the above soups: Add four ounces of either onions, carrots, celery, turnips, leeks, greens, cabbage, or potatoes, previously well washed or peeled, or any of these mixed to make up four ounces, putting them in the pot with the meat. I have used the green tops of leeks and the leaf of celery as well as the stem, and found that for stewing they are preferable to the white part for flavor. The meat being generally salted with rock salt, it ought to be well scraped and washed, or even soaked in water a few hours if convenient; but if the last cannot be done, and the meat is therefore too salt, which would spoil the broth, parboil it for twenty minutes in water, before using for soup, taking care to throw this water away.

No. 17. For fresh beef proceed, as far as the cooking goes, as for salt beef, adding a teaspoonful of salt to the water.

No. 18. Pea Soup. Put in your pot half a pound of salt pork, half a pint of peas, three pints of water, one teaspoonful of sugar, half one of pepper, four ounces of vegetables, cut in slices, if to be had; boil gently two hours, or until the peas are tender, as some require boiling longer than others and serve.

No 19. Stewed Fresh Beef and Rice. Put an ounce of fat in a pot, cut half a pound of meat in large dice, add a teaspoonful of salt, half one of sugar, an onion sliced; put on the fire to stew for fifteen minutes, stirring occasionally, then add two ounces of rice, a pint of water; stew gently till done, and serve. Any savory herb will improve the flavor. Fresh pork, veal, or mutton may be done the same way, and half a pound of potatoes used instead of the rice, and as rations are served out for three days, the whole of the provisions may be cooked at once.

No. 20. RECEIPTS FOR THE FRYING-PAN. Those who are fortunate enough to possess a frying-pan will find the following receipts very useful: Cut in small dice half a pound of solid meat, keeping the bones for soup; put your pan, which should be quite clean, on the fire; when hot through, add an ounce of fat, melt it and put in the meat, season with half a teaspoonful of salt; fry fur ten minutes, stirring now and then; add a teaspoonful of flour, mix all well, put in half a pint of water, let simmer for fifteen minutes, pour over a biscuit previously soaked, and serve. The addition ot a little pepper and sugar, if handy, is an improvement, as is also a pinch of cayenne, curry-powder or spice; sauces and pickles used in small quantities would be very relishing; these are articles which will keep for any length of time. As fresh meat is not easily obtained, any of the cold salt meat may be dressed as above, omitting the salt, and only requires warming; or, for a change, boil the meat plainly, or with greens, or cabbage, or dumplings, as for beef; then the next day cut what is left in small dice say four ounces put in a pan an ounce of fat; when very hot pour in the following: Mix in a basin a tablespoonful of flour, moisten with water to form the consistency of thick melted butter, then pour it in the pan, letting it remain for one or two minutes, or until set; put in the meat, shake the pan to loosen it, turn it over, let it remain a few minutes longer, and serve. To cook bacon, chops, steaks, slices of any kind of meat, salt or fresh sausages, black puddings, &c.: Make the pan very hot, having wiped it clean, add in fat, dripping, butter, or oil, about an ounce of either; put in the meat, turn three or four times, and season with salt and pepper. A few minutes will do it. If the meat is salt, it must be well soaked previously.

No. 21. SUET DUMPLINGS. Take half a pound of flour, half a tea-spoonful of salt, a quarter teaspoonful of pepper, a quarter of a pound of chopped fat pork or beef suet, eight tablespoonfuls of water, mixed well together. It will form a thick paste, and when formed, divide it into six or eight pieces, which roll in flour, and boil with the meat for twenty minutes to half an hour. Little chopped onion or aromatic herbs will give it a flavor.

A plainer way, when Fat is not to be obtained. Put the same quantity of flour and seasoning in a little more water, and make it softer, and divide it into sixteen pieces; boil about ten minutes. Serve round the meat. One plain pudding may be made of the above, also peas and rice pudding thus: One pound of peas well tied in a cloth, or rice ditto with the beef. It will form a good pudding. The following ingredients may be added: a little salt, sugar, pepper, chopped onions, aromatic herbs, and two ounces of chopped fat will make these puddings palatable and delicate. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, pp. 183-201).

COOL SPRINGS, VIRGINIA, July 18, 1864. A Confederate account states that while the fight was going on at Snicker's ferry some of the Federals tried to cross the Shenandoah river at Cool Springs, but were driven back by Rodes and Wharton with considerable loss. No mention of the occurrence is found in the Union reports.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 314.


COOLIDGE, Richard H., military surgeon, born in the state of New York in 1816; died in Raleigh, North Carolina, 23 January, 1866. He was appointed assistant surgeon in the U. S. Army from New York state in August, 1841, and served at various posts. In June, 1860, he was promoted surgeon, and was medical purveyor and director, Department of the Pacific, from January, 1861, till April, 1862. He was lieutenant-colonel and medical inspector from June, 1862, till October, 1865, was in the provost-marshal's department, Washington, D. C., till April, 1864, and on duty at Louisville, Kentucky, from May till November, 1864. He was made medical inspector of the Northern Department and of the Department of Pennsylvania in 1865, and subsequently promoted to a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy for faithful and meritorious services during the war. He was medical director of the Department of North Carolina at the time of his death. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 723.


COOLIDGE, Sidney, scientist, born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1830; died near Chickamauga, Georgia, 19 September, 1863. He studied abroad from 1839 till 1850, first in Geneva and Vevay, and afterward in the Royal military College in Dresden. After his return to this country he assisted in the construction of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, and in running the boundary-line of Minnesota. After working in the nautical-almanac office and in the Cambridge observatory, he was appointed in 1853 assistant astronomer to Commodore Perry's Japan Exploring Expedition. In 1854 he assisted Professor George P. Bond in his observations of the planet Saturn, and contributed drawings and notes to the published annals of the observatory. He took charge in 1855 of the Chronometric Expedition for determining the difference of longitude between Cambridge and Greenwich, and in 1850-'7 studied the dialects and astronomical superstitions of the Indians near Saguenay River and Lake Mistassinnie. Being in Mexico in 1858, he took part in the Civil War of that year, was taken prisoner and sentenced to be shot, but was finally released and sent to the city of Mexico on parole. He took part in an Arizona land-Survey in 1860, and in May, 1861, became major in the 16th U. S. Infantry. He was superintendent of the regimental recruiting service in 1862, commanded regiments at different posts and camps, and was engaged at the battles of Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga, where he was killed. For his services in the latter fight he received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 723.


COOMBS, Leslie, soldier, born near Boonesboro, Clark County, Kentucky, 28 November, 1793; died in Lexington, Kentucky, 21 August, 1881. His father, who served at the siege of Yorktown, moved from Virginia in 1782, and settled in the wilderness of Kentucky. Leslie, the twelfth child of this pioneer farmer, entered the army at the age of nineteen. In the campaign that ended in the disaster at the River Raisin, he was sent by General Winchester with important despatches to General Harrison. To deliver these he was obliged to traverse a wilderness, occupied by savages and covered with snow, for over a hundred miles, and suffered great privations. On 2 June, 1813, he was commissioned captain of spies in Dudley's Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers. He volunteered, with an Indian guide, to carry the intelligence of the approach of General Clay's forces to General Harrison, when the latter was besieged in Fort Meigs, but was overpowered in sight of the fort, and escaped to Fort Defiance. He bore a conspicuous part in the defeat of Colonel Dudley, on 5 May, and was wounded at Fort Miami. After the war he studied law, was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-three, attaining high rank in the profession. In 1836 he raised, at Ins own expense, a regiment to aid Texas in her struggle for independence, and was commissioned colonel in August of that year. He was for several terms state auditor, and "was many times elected to the legislature. When his old" commander, General Harrison, was a candidate for president, Coombs took a prominent part in the canvass. As a stump orator he was unsurpassed. At the beginning of the Mexican War he aided largely in raising volunteers in Kentucky. He was a strong Whig, and earnestly devoted to the Union from the time when the question of secession was first advanced. In 1849 Henry Clay, who placed great trust in General Coombs, wrote to him suggesting that Union meetings should be held throughout Kentucky, enclosing resolutions to be adopted. During the canvass of 1844 he made many speeches in the north and east in support of his friend Clay as a candidate for president. It was in defeating General Coombs for Congress that John C. Breckinridge won his earliest success in public life. General Coombs's last public office was that of clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, to which he was elected by a large majority as the Union candidate in 1860. In opposition to the state guard, organized by Simon B. Buckner, which was only a school of recruits for the Confederate Army, he organized and armed, in conjunction with General Lovell H. Rousseau, a body of loyal soldiers, who subsequently rendered effective service in the national cause. General Coombs was one of the pioneers of railroad-building in the west. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 723-724.


COOMBS' FERRY, KENTUCKY, February 22, 1863. Coon Creek, Missouri, August 24, 1862. Detachment of U. S. Troops of the Department of Kansas. About 300 cavalry, while returning from Carthage to Fort Scott, suddenly encountered a force of Confederates, estimated at from 800 to 1,200 men, under Quantrill, Hays and Colonel Shelby. After a short skirmish the Federal troops were compelled to retire with the loss of 5 men killed and 15 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 314.


COOPER, George Henry, naval officer, born In Fort Diamond, New York Harbor, 27 July, 1821. He was appointed a midshipman in the U.S. Navy on 14 August, 1837, and during that year was attached to the fleet on the coast of Florida, which was co-operating with the army in boat expeditions against the Seminole Indians. From 1838 till 1842 he was attached to the frigate “Constitution” on the Pacific, after which he spent some time in the naval school, then in Philadelphia. He was promoted to passed midshipman in June, 1843, and served on the “Flirt” during the Mexican War. This vessel reported to General Taylor in March, 1846, and Mr. Cooper commanded a detachment of men at Point Isabel, Texas, in May. After the capture of Monterey he was transferred to Commodore Connor's squadron, and was present at the attacks on Tobasco, Alvarado, and Tuspan. From 1847 till 1851 he served at Norfolk, and then for five years was attached to the “Susquehanna” in the East India Squadron. He received his commission as lieutenant, 8 May, 1851, and on his return from the East Indies again spent two years at Norfolk, after which he served on the frigate “Roanoke” in the home squadron, and later at the U.S. Navy-yard in Portsmouth. In July, 1862, he was made commander and given the supply-vessel “Massachusetts,” of the Atlantic Squadron, and in 1863 was in command of the “Mercedita,” of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. For seven weeks he commanded the monitor “Sangamon” inside of the Charleston Roads, employed on picket-duty, and acted in concert with the army, constantly shelling Fort Sumter and the batteries on Sullivan's Island. Later he was stationed in Stone Inlet, South Carolina, as senior officer, co-operating with the army in expeditions against the enemy, and frequently engaged at short range. From 1863 till 1867 he commanded successively the “Sonoma,” the “Glaucus,” and the “Winooski,” and, after receiving his commission as captain in December, 1867, was stationed at the Norfolk U.S. Navy-yard. He then spent some time at sea in command of the frigate “Colorado,” and in 1872-’3 was commandant of the Norfolk Navy-yard. In June, 1874, he was promoted to commodore, after which he had charge of the Pensacola Navy-yard. From 1878 till 1880 he was President of the Board of Inspection, and commandant of the Brooklyn Navy-yard until 1882. In November, 1881, he was commissioned rear-admiral and given command of the North Atlantic Station, with headquarters in New York. In 1884 he was placed on the retired list. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 724.


COOPER, James, senator, born in Frederick county, Maryland, 8 Mav, 1810; died in Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio," 28 March, 1863. He studied at St. Mary's College, and was graduated at Washington College. Pennsylvania, in 1832, after which he studied law with Thaddeus Stevens. In 1834 he was admitted to the bar, and began to practice in Gettysburg. Pennsylvania He was elected to Congress as a Whig, and served for two terms, from 2 December, 1839, till 3 March, 1843. He was a member of the state legislature during the years 1843, 1844, 1846, and 1848, and its speaker in 1847. In 1848 he was made attorney-general of Pennsylvania, and he was elected to the U. S. Senate as a Whig, holding office from 3 December, 1849, till 3 March, 1855. On the expiration of his term he settled in Philadelphia, and later in Frederick City, Maryland. Soon after the beginning of the Civil War he took command of all the volunteers in Maryland, and organized them into regiments. On 17 May, 1861, He was made brigadier-general in the volunteer service, his appointment being among the first that were made during the war. Later he was placed in command of Camp Chase, where he served until his death. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 724.


COOPER, Joseph Alexander, soldier, born near Somerset,  25 November, 1823. He served during the Mexican War in the 4th Tennessee Infantry. When the Civil War began he entered the U.S. service as captain in the 1st Tennessee Infantry, becoming in 1862 colonel of the 6th Tennessee. He served in East Tennessee and Georgia, and in July, 1864, was made a brigadier-general, in which capacity he commanded on the march through Georgia, receiving the brevet of major-general in March, 1865.  He held the office of collector of internal revenue in Tennessee from 1869 till 1879, and later, again resumed his farming in Kansas. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp.


COOPER, Peter, 1791-1883, New York anti-slavery activist, Native American rights advocate, industrialist, inventor, philanthropist.  (Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 730-732; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 409)

COOPER, Peter, philanthropist, born in New York City, 12 February, 1791; died there, 4 April, 1883; His mother was the daughter of John Campbell, a successful potter in New York, who became an alderman of the city and was deputy quartermaster during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Campbell contributed liberally to the cause of American freedom, and received in acknowledgment a large quantity of Continental money. On his father's side Mr. Cooper was of English descent, and both his grandfather and his father served in the Continental Army. The latter, who became a lieutenant during the war, was a hatter, and at the close of the war resumed his business in New York. Peter was born about this period, and he remembered the time when, as a boy, he was employed to pull hair out of rabbit-skins, his head being just above the table. He continued to assist his father until he was competent to make every part of a hat. The elder Cooper determined to live in the country, and moved to Peekskill, where he began the brewing of ale, and the son was employed in delivering the kegs. Later, Catskill became the residence of the family, and the hatter's business was resumed, to which was added the making of bricks. Peter was made useful in carrying and handling the bricks for the drying process. These occupations proved unsatisfactory, and another move was made, this time to Brooklyn, where the father and son again made hats for a time, after which they settled in Newburg and erected a brewery. Peter meanwhile acquired such knowledge as he could, for his schooling appears to have been limited to half days during a single year. In 1808 he was apprenticed to John Woodward, a carriage-maker, with whom he remained until he became of age. During this time he constructed a machine for mortising the hubs of carriages, which proved of great value to his employer, who at the expiration of his service offered to establish him in business. This, however, was declined, and Cooper settled in Hempstead, Long Island, where for three years he manufactured machines for shearing cloth, and at the end of this engagement he had saved sufficient money to buy the right of the state of New York for a machine for shearing cloth. He began the manufacture of these machines on his own account, and the enterprise was thoroughly successful, largely owing to the interruption of commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain by the war, and also on account of an improvement devised by himself. At this time he married Sarah Bedel, of Hempstead, who proved a devoted wife during fifty-six years of married life. With the cessation of hostilities the value of this business depreciated, and he turned his shop into a factory for making cabinet-ware. Later he entered the grocery business in New York, but soon afterward the profits acquired by the sale of his machines and in the grocer's shop were invested in a glue-factory, which he purchased with all its stock and buildings then on a lease of twenty-one years. These works were situated on the “old middle road,” between 31st and 34th streets, New York City, and there the business of manufacturing glue, oil, whiting, prepared chalk, and isinglass was continued until the expiration of the lease, when he bought ten acres of ground in Maspeth avenue, Brooklyn, where the business has since been continued. In 1828 he purchased 3,000 acres of land within the city limits of Baltimore, and he erected the Canton iron-works, which was the first of his great enterprises tending toward the development of the iron industry in the United States. This purchase was made at a time when there was great commercial excitement in Baltimore on account of the building of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was feared that the many short turns in the road would make it useless for locomotive purposes. The stockholders had become discouraged, and the project seemed about to be abandoned, when Peter Cooper came to the rescue and built, in 1830, from his own designs, the first locomotive engine ever constructed on this continent. By its means the possibility of building railroads in a country with little capital, and with immense stretches of very rough surface, in order to connect commercial centres, without the deep cuts, tunneling, and levelling that short curves might avoid, was demonstrated, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was saved from bankruptcy. He determined to dispose of his Baltimore property, and a portion of it was purchased by Horace Abbott, which in time became the Abbott Iron company. The remainder was sold to Boston capitalists, who formed the Canton Iron Company. He received part of his payment in stock at $44 a share, which he subsequently sold at $230. He then returned to New York and built an iron-factory, which he afterward turned into a rolling-mill, where he first successfully applied anthracite coal to the puddling of iron, and made iron wire for several years. In 1845 he built three blast-furnaces in Phillipsburg, near Easton, Pennsylvania, which were the largest then known, and, to control the manufacture completely, purchased the Andover iron-mines, and built a railroad through a rough country for eight miles, in order to bring the ore down to the furnaces at the rate of 40,000 tons a year. Later the entire plant was combined into a corporation known as the Ironton Iron-works. At these works the first wrought-iron beams for fireproof buildings were made. The laying of the Atlantic cable was largely due to his persistent efforts in its behalf. He was the first and only president of the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company. It became necessary to expend large sums in its construction, much of which came directly from Mr. Cooper. The banks were unwilling to trust the corporation, and invariably drew on the president as claims matured. The company was frequently in his debt to the extent of ten to twenty thousand dollars. The first cable lasted scarcely a month, and a dozen years elapsed before the original investments were recovered. In spite of public ridicule and the refusal of capitalists to risk their money, Mr. Cooper clung to the idea, until at last a cable became an assured success. The original stock, which had been placed on the market at $50 a share, was then disposed of to an English company at $90. Mr. Cooper served in both branches of the New York common council, and strongly advocated, when a member of that body, the construction of the Croton aqueduct He was a trustee in the Public School Society first founded to promote public schools in New York, and when that body was merged in the board of education he became a school commissioner. But he is most widely known in connection with his interest in industrial education. His own experience early impressed him with the necessity of affording proper means for the instruction of the working classes. With this idea he secured the property at the junction of 3d and 4th avenues, between 7th and 8th streets, and from plans of his own making “The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art” was erected. In 1854 the corner-stone was laid, and five years later, on its completion, a deed was executed in fee simple transferring this property to six trustees, who were empowered to devote all rents and income from it “to the instruction and improvement of the inhabitants of the United States in practical science and art.” A scheme of education was devised which should include “instruction in branches of knowledge by which men and women earn their daily bread; in laws of health and improvement of the sanitary conditions of families as well as individuals; in social and political science, whereby communities and nations advance in virtue, wealth, and power; and finally in matters which affect the eye, the ear, and the imagination, and furnish a basis for recreation to the working classes.” Free courses of lectures on social and political science were established; also a free reading-room; and collections of works of art and science were provided, and a school for instruction of women in the art of design by which they may gain an honorable livelihood. When sufficient funds have been collected, it is proposed to establish a polytechnic school. The building with its improvements has cost thus far nearly $750,000. It has an endowment of $200,000 for the support of the free reading-room and library. The annual expense of the schools varies from $50,000 to $60,000, and is derived from the rents of such portions of the edifice as are used for business purposes. Mr. Cooper devoted much careful thought and study to questions of finance and good government. He became active in the greenback movement, and published several political pamphlets on the subject of the currency. In 1876 he was nominated by the National Independent Party as their candidate for president, and in the election that followed received nearly 100,000 votes. In all affairs concerning the advancement and welfare of New York City Mr. Cooper was prominent. No public gathering seemed complete without his well-known presence on the platform. He was a regular attendant of the Unitarian Church, and liberal in his donations to charitable institutions, to many of which he held the relation of trustee. His various addresses and speeches were collected in a volume entitled “Ideas for a Science of Good Government, in Addresses, Letters, and Articles on a Strictly National Currency, Tariff, and Civil Service” (New York, 1883). Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 730-732.           


COOPER, Philip H, naval officer, born in New York, 7 August 1844. He was graduated at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1863, when he was promoted to ensign and attached to the steam sloop "Ticonderoga” in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and was present at both attacks on Fort Fisher. In 1865 he was made master, and in 1866 lieutenant, serving, meanwhile, until 1868 on the sloop “Shenandoah,” in the Asiatic Squadron. He received his commission as lieutenant-commander in 1868, and was assigned to duty at the U.S. Naval Academy. Later he was attached to the “Plymouth,” on the European Station, and afterward was on duty at the Naval Academy. He was made commander in 1879, and for several years employed at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, after which he commanded the “Swatara” in the Asiatic Squadron. In 1886 he was made commandant of the Norfolk Navy-yard. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 732.


COOPER, Samuel, soldier, born in Hackensack, New Jersey, 12 June, 1798; died in Cameron, Virginia, 3 December, 1876. His father, of the same name, served during the Revolutionary war, and fought in the battles of Lexington, Bunker Hill, Monmouth, and Germantown. At the close of the war, having attained the rank of major, he settled in Dutchess county, where he married Miss Mary Horton. He was graduated at the U.S. Military Academy in 1815, and promoted to second lieutenant in the artillery. His services were retained on the reorganization of the army after the war of 1812, and he served on garrison duty and in Washington for several years, meanwhile he had been promoted to first lieutenant. From 1828 till 1836 he was aide-de-camp to General Alexander Macomb, becoming captain in June, 1836, and until 1841 was on staff duty at army head-quarters as assistant adjutant general. During the Florida War he was chief of staff to Colonel William J. Worth. He remained on special duty in the war Department in Washington from 1842 till 1852, was brevetted colonel for meritorious conduct in the prosecution of his duties in connection with the Mexican War, and then, until 1861, was adjutant-general of the U.S. Army, with the rank of colonel of the staff, dating from 1852. For a short time during this period he was Secretary of War ad interim. In March, 1861, he resigned his commission and offered his services to the seceding states. He was appointed adjutant and inspector-general of the army, of which he was the ranking officer, standing first on the list of generals. In 1827 he married a granddaughter of George Mason, of Gunston Hall, Clermont, Fairfax County, Virginia, and subsequent to the Civil War, lived in retirement at his country seat near Alexandria, Virginia He was the author of “A Concise System of Instructions and Regulations for the Militia and Volunteers of the United States” (Philadelphia, 1836). Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 732.


COOSA RIVER, ALABAMA, July 13, 1864. (See Jackson's Ford.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 314.


COOSAVILLE ROAD, SOUTH CAROLINA, October 13, 1864. 2nd Cavalry Division, Department of the Cumberland. Orders were received by Brigadier- General Kenner Garrard, commanding this division, to learn if the Confederates had taken up their pontoon bridge, and if so on which side of the river. After advancing some 4 miles the enemy was encountered. The 1st Ohio was dismounted as skirmishers, the 3d Ohio was sent out on the flanks mounted and the 3d brigade was dismounted and brought up in line, two regiments on each side of the road. The enemy fell back after a little skirmishing and the advance continued. The Federal command was moving through a stretch of timber into which the enemy poured a hot artillery fire. When the woods ended the Confederates were discovered within long rifle range, across a stream in the edge of another piece of woods. Just as the Federal line emerged from the woods Garrard ordered a charge. After a stiff resistance the enemy gave way and was pursued for 14 miles. The killed, wounded and captured of the Confederates amounted to over 70; the Union troops Ion 14 killed and wounded and capture! 2 pieces of artillery. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 314.


COOSAWATCHIE, SOUTH CAROLINA, October 22, 1862. (See Brannan's Expedition from Hilton Head.)


COOSAW RIVER, SOUTH CAROLINA, December 4, 1864. 25th Ohio Volunteers.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 315.


COPELAND, John Anthony, Jr., 1834-1859, free African American man with John Brown during his raid at the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; hanged with John Brown, December 1859 (see entry for John Brown).  (Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 404-407; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 5, p. 480; Gates, Henry Louis, Jr., & Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, eds. African American National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2013, Vol. 3, p. 269)


COPELAND, Joseph T., soldier, born in Michigan about 1830. He entered the 1st Michigan Cavalry, which was organized during the summer of 1861, and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel on 22 August He fought through the Manassas Campaign, returned to Detroit in July, 1862, and organized the 5th Cavalry, of which he became colonel, 14 August, and on 29 November, 1862, was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers and assigned to the command of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, formed at Washington, 12 Dee. The brigade, forming part of Hooker's cavalry, was in Maryland after Leo had crossed the Potomac. They were the first Union troops to occupy Gettysburg; but with the other changes of commanders then carried out, General Copeland transferred his command to General Custer just before the battle, 1 July, 1863. He subsequently commanded a draft rendezvous at Annapolis Junction, Maryland, and at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then the post and military prison at Alton, Illinois, until the close of the war. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 735.


COPELAND, Melvin, abolitionist, Hartford, Connecticut, American Anti-Slavery Society, Manager, 1837-1839.


COPELAND, Oberlinites John, Jr., free African American man with John Brown during his raid at the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, October 16, 1859; hanged with John Brown, December 1859 (see entry for John Brown).  (Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 404-407)


COPPOC, Barclay, Iowa, Society of Friends, Quaker, joined John Brown in his raid on the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, (West) Virginia, in 1859.  Escaped capture.  (See entry for John Brown).  (Drake, 1950, p. 192; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 404-407)


COPPOC, Edwin, Iowa, Society of Friends, Quaker, joined John Brown in his raid on the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, (West) Virginia, in 1859.  Hanged with John Brown.  (See entry for John Brown).  (Drake, 1950, p. 192; Rodriguez, 2007, p. 327; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 404-407)


CORBETT, Henry Winslow, senator, born in Westboro, Massachusetts, 18 February, 1827. He accompanied. his parents to Washington county, New York, received an academic education, entered a store at Cambridge in 1840, moved to New York City in 1843, and continued in mercantile business there for seven years. In 1850 he shipped a quantity of goods to Portland, Oregon, and the following spring settled in that territory and became a prominent merchant, and in 1867 a banker, in Portland. He has held various local offices, and was active in the organization of the Democratic Party in Oregon. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1860, and chairman of the state central committee in 1859–60, and in 1866 was elected U.S. Senator, serving from 1867 till 3 March, 1873.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 700


CORBIN, Thomas G., naval officer, born in Virginia, 13 August 1820; died in 1886. He was appointed a midshipman, 15 May, 1838, served on the Coast Survey  and in the Brazilian and Pacific Squadrons, was commissioned lieutenant, 10 June, 1852. He was for many years employed in the survey of the River Plata during 1853–5. He was attached to  the steamer "Wabash," of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, in 1861-3, and at the battle of Port Royal, 7 November, 1861, taking part in the capture of Forts Beauregard and Walker. He was commissioned commander, 16 July, 1862, and was commandant at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1863. In 1864-'5 he commanded the steamer "Augusta," served as fleet-captain of the West India Squadron in 1865-'6, was commissioned captain, 25 July, 1866, made his last cruise in command of the flagship "Guerriere," of the South Atlantic Squadron, in 1868, and afterward served on ordnance duty at Philadelphia. He was retired 5 January, 1874.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 736-37.


CORBIN'S BRIDGE, VIRGINIA, May 6-8, 1864. (See Wilderness and Spottsylvania.)


CORBIN'S CROSS ROADS, Virginia, November 10. 1862. (See Amissville.)


CORBIN'S CROSS ROADS, VIRGINIA, September 1. 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 315.


CORCORAN, Michael, soldier, born in Carrowkeel, County Sligo, Ireland, 21 September, 1827; died near Fairfax Court-House, Virginia, 22 December, 1863. He was the son of a captain in the British Army, received a good education, and was appointed in the Irish constabulary at the early age of eighteen, but resigned his commission from patriotic motives in 1841), emigrated to the United States. and settled in New York City, where he obtained a clerkship in the post-office, and afterward in the office of the city register. He entered the 6th Regiment of New York militia as a private, rose through the successive grades, and in August, 1859, was elected colonel. When the militia paraded in honor of the Prince of Wales in 1860, he refused to order out his regiment, for which he was subjected to a trial by court-martial that was still pending when the Civil War began. Upon the first call of the president for troops, Colonel Corcoran led the 69th regiment to the seat of war. It was ordered into Virginia, built Port Corcoran on Arlington heights, and fought with impetuous valor at the battle of Bull Run, 21 July, 1861. The colonel was wounded and taken prisoner, and was first sent to Richmond, and afterward taken to Charleston, Columbia, Salisbury, back to Richmond, and to other places, being kept in close confinement for nearly a year. With some other national officers he was reserved for execution in case the U. S. government carried out its threat of punishing the crews of captured privateers. He was offered his liberty on condition of not again taking up arms against the south, but refused to accept it on such terms. An exchange being finally effected, 15 August, 1862, he was released, and commissioned brigadier-general, dating from 21 July, 1861. He next organized the Corcoran legion, which took part in the battles of the Nansemond River and Suffolk, during April, 1863, and held the advance of the enemy upon Norfolk in check. In August, 1863, the legion was attached to the Army of the Potomac. General Corcoran was killed by the falling of his horse upon him while he was riding in company with General Thomas Francis Meagher. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 737


CORDON is the coping of the escarp or inner wall of the ditch, sometimes called the magistral line; as from it the works in permanent fortification are traced. It is usually rounded in front, and projects about one foot over the masonry: while it protects the top of the revetment from being saturated with water, it also offers, from projection, an obstacle to an enemy in escalading the wall. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 201).


CORE CREEK, NORTH CAROLINA, Nov 18, 1862. 3d New York Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 315.


CORE CREEK, NORTH CAROLINA, March 7, 1863. 58th Pennsylvania Infantry, and part of 3d New York Cavalry. As an incident of the expedition to make a demonstration against Kinston, this detachment, Colonel J. R. Jones commanding, reached the neighborhood of Core creek about 2 a. m. and found that the enemy occupied a line of works on the creek. Being unable to get across at any unobserved place, Jones ordered that a passage be forced. This was done by opening a heavy fire before daylight on the breastworks on the Dover road while a force rushed across on the single string-piece left on the bridge. The Confederates cried out that they surrendered, but escaped under cover of darkness before the Union troops could get to the enemy’s works.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 315.


CORE CREEK, NORTH CAROLINA, April 16-18, 1863. Detachment of the 5th Division, 18th Army Corps. The detachment, commanded by Brigadier-General Henry Prince, moved out from New Berne on the morning of the 16th to reconnoiter the enemy's position in the vicinity of Kinston. That evening Captain John O'Connor, with Company G, 158th New York, was sent to the railroad bridge over Core creek, where he found about 25 Confederate pickets. A few shots were exchanged and the enemy fell back across the stream. During the night Colonel J. R. Jones, with a portion of the command, tried to cross unobserved at a blind ford, but found the water too high. Next morning he was reinforced by Colonel Jourdan and forced a passage in a sharp skirmish, in which he lost 1 man killed and 4 wounded. Jones followed the retreating Confederates for 3 miles, and on the morning of the 18th Jourdan crossed the creek, effecting a junction with Jones and extended the line to the Dover road. The enemy's loss was not learned, but 3 of his dead were buried by the Union troops.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 315.


CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, May 9, 1862. 2nd Indiana and 3d Ohio Cavalry, detachments of 77th Pennsylvania and 29th Indiana Infantry, and 1st Michigan Engineers. About 10 a. m. of this day the outposts in front of General McCook's division were assailed by the enemy's infantry. While the line of skirmishers was falling back before the enemy, Major Foster, senior officer of the cavalry detachment, dismounted part of his force so as to more effectually engage the Confederates. Meanwhile the infantry began to fall back, and Major Paramore, commanding the other squadron of the cavalry, disobeying the orders of his senior officer, also moved his command. This made it necessary for the remainder of the outposts to give way. Paramore's conduct on this occasion was the cause of an investigation. The casualties on the Federal side were slight.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 315.


CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, May 21, 1862. 22nd Brigade, 4th Division, Army of the Ohio. In the advance upon Corinth, Major-General D. C. Buell, commanding the Army of the Ohio, ordered Sedgewick's brigade of Nelson's division to make a reconnaissance in the direction of the Widow Serratt's house. Near the Driver house Sedgewick was joined by a squadron of cavalry and a battery from Wood's division, when the whole command moved forward to a high, open ridge, where the 1st Kentucky was placed on the left of the road leading to Corinth, the 20th Kentucky on the right, and two companies of each regiment were deployed as skirmishers. The enemy, in considerable force, occupied a strong position in a wood along a creek and opened fire as soon as Sedgewick's line commenced to advance. Major Cahill, commanding the 1st Kentucky, on his own responsibility, sent Captain Williamson with Company H, into the woods on his left to protect that flank. The wisdom of this action was soon demonstrated, as the Confederates made an attempt to turn the left, but were repulsed with severe loss by Williamson's men. Sedgewick's skirmishers pressed forward to a position in front of the Widow Serratt's, when they were met by a galling lire and forced to fall back for a short distance. Two sections of the battery were then placed in position to shell the woods, the 2nd Kentucky was moved forward to a position behind a fence in front of the artillery, and the 31st Indiana was sent to support the 1st Kentucky on the left. A determined attack was made on the left, but it was repulsed, though three times the enemy rallied and tried to break that part of the line. In this part of the action Captain Williamson was wounded and 17 of his men were either killed or wounded. After the enemy had been repulsed on the left he appeared on the right with a large force of infantry, supported by a battery. Sedgewick strengthened that portion of his line and held his position, awaiting an attack, but none was made. About 5 p. m. orders came from Buell to hold on until after dark and then return to camp, leaving one regiment to deceive the enemy as to the force remaining. This order was carried out, the 31st Indiana remaining on the ground until after midnight. Sedgewick's loss in killed and wounded was 26. In his report he says: "As to the loss of the enemy we have no accurate information, but we afterward found in the immediate vicinity 35 newly-made graves, and from the evidence of prisoners since taken their loss in killed and wounded far exceed that number." The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 315-316.


CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, May 28, 1862. (See Bridge Creek.)


CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, (EVACUATION OF), May 30, 1862. Occupation by U. S. Forces under Halleck. After the battle of Shiloh the Confederates retired to Corinth, where General Beauregard was joined by General Van Dorn with 17,000 men from Missouri and Arkansas. His army was further augmented by recruits from various sources until he had from 50,000 to 60,000 men fit for duty. General Halleck personally assumed command of the Union forces at Pittsburg Landing on April 11, and immediately began the work of recruiting and reorganizing the army. Pope's Army of the Mississippi was brought up from Fort Pillow; troops were brought from Missouri, and new recruits from various depots in the North came in, so that by May 1 Halleck had 100,000 men under his command. About that date he commenced his march against Corinth, meeting with more or less opposition at Farmington, Seven-mile creek, Russell's, and other places. Colonel W. L. Elliott was sent with an expedition to cut the railroad communications to the rear of Corinth, and Beauregard, seeing himself about to be surrounded, decided to evacuate the place before it was too late. Orders for such a movement were issued on the 26th, the hour of 3 a. m. being fixed upon as the time of departure. This was postponed until the following night, in order to give opportunity for the removal of the stores. To cover his intentions Beauregard ordered that "Camp fires must be kept up all night by the troops in position and then by the cavalry," and also that "Whenever the railroad engine whistles during the night near the intrenchments the troops in the vicinity will cheer repeatedly, as though reinforcements had been received." Some time after midnight the whistles and cheers were heard, as Beauregard intended they should be, and the impression was created in the Federal camps that the Confederates were being reinforced. But to be sure skirmishers were immediately sent forward to ascertain the cause of the commotion. These sent back word that trains, loaded with troops and artillery, were leaving the city. At 6 o'clock a. m. several explosions were heard, and both Pope and Sherman began the advance upon the town. By 8 o'clock both divisions were inside the Confederate works, and an hour later Pope was in full pursuit. Halleck reported the destruction of a large amount of public property, etc., by the retreating army, and the next day telegraphed: "General Pope, with 40,000 men, is 30 miles south of Florence, pushing the enemy hard. He already reports 10,000 prisoners and deserters from the enemy and 15,000 stand of arms captured." Corinth, Mississippi, October 3-4, 1862. 2nd and 3d Divisions Army of the Mississippi, and 2nd and 6th Divisions Army of West Tennessee. When General Price was driven from Iuka on September 20, he moved southward to Baldwyn, thence to Ripley, where he effected a junction with General Van Dorn on the 28th. Van Dorn took command of the consolidated armies and immediately began preparing for an assault on Corinth. Price's corps, or the Army of the West, consisted of Hebert's and Maury's divisions, the former including the brigades of Gates, Colbert, Green and Martin, and the latter the brigades of Moore, Cabell and Phifer. Armstrong's cavalry brigade numbered three regiments, the 2nd Arkansas, Adams' Miss, regiment, and the 2nd Missouri Each brigade was accompanied by a battery, and two batteries were held in reserve. Lovell's division of the District of the Mississippi included the infantry brigades of Rust, Villepigue and Bowen, W. H. Jackson's cavalry brigade, and Dupiere's Louisiana Zouave battalion. Two batteries were with this division, which had been with Van Dorn prior to his forming a union with Price. The Union force at Corinth was under the command of Major-General William S. Rosecrans, and was organized as follows: The 2nd division, Army of the Mississippi, was commanded by Brigadier-General David S. Stanley and included the brigades of Colonels John W. Fuller and Joseph A. Mower; the third division, under Brigadier-General Charles S. Hamilton, was composed of the brigades commanded by Brigadier-Generals N. B. Buford and J. C. Sullivan; the cavalry division, Colonel John K. Mizner, was divided into two brigades, the first commanded by Colonel Edward Hatch and the 2nd by Colonel Albert L. Lee. Yates' sharpshooters, under Captain John Morrill, were unattached. The 2nd division of the Army of West Tennessee was commanded by Brigadier-General Thomas A. Davies and was composed of three brigades: the 1st under Brigadier-General P. A. Hackleman, the 2nd under Brigadier-General R. J. Oglesby, and the 3d under Colonel S. D. Baldwin. This division also contained Colonel Burke's Western sharpshooters and four field batteries. The 6th division, Brigadier-General Thomas J. McKean, included three brigades, commanded by Colonels Benjamin Allen. John M. Oliver and Marcellus M. Crocker, and five batteries. According to the field returns for September 30, Rosecrans had "present for duty" 23,077 men of all arms. The numbers of the Confederate army were about the same. Van Dorn says the field returns at Ripley, just before beginning his march, showed about 22,000 men. Besides Rosecrans' command Grant had 7,000 men under Sherman at Memphis, 12,000 under Ord and Hurlbut at Bolivar, and 6,000 as a reserve at Jackson, where he established his headquarters on October 1, in order to be within easy communication with the different detachments. Van Dorn left Ripley on September 29, and on the very day that Grant took up his headquarters at Jackson the Confederate army was at Pocahontas, about 20 miles west of Corinth, on the Memphis & Charleston railroad. As Memphis, Bolivar, Jackson and Corinth were all within striking distance. Grant was uncertain as to which place would be the point of attack. When Van Dorn reached Pocahontas he turned eastward and on the night of the 2nd bivouacked at Chewalla, 9 miles from Corinth. Federal scouts had kept Grant advised of the enemy's movements, and while the Confederates were at Pocahontas he sent word to Rosecrans to be prepared for an attack, at the same time directing Hurlbut to keep an eye on the enemy and strike him on the flank if a favorable opportunity offered. But Rosecrans was already awake to the situation. Although the general opinion at Corinth was that Van Dorn's objective point was either Jackson or Bolivar, Rosecrans decided to take no chances. In his report he says: "To be prepared for eventualities, Hamilton's and Stanley's divisions were placed just beyond Bridge creek, the infantry outposts were called in from Iuka, Burnsville, Rienzi, and Danville, and the outpost at Chewalla retired to near Alexander's, and strengthened by another regiment and a battery early on the morning of the 2nd." This outpost was under the command of Colonel Oliver. At daybreak on the 2nd he sent scouts toward Kossuth and destroyed the bridge over the Hatchie river. Later in the day he sent a small force of infantry to the railroad near Chewalla, where the cavalry vedettes of the enemy were encountered, and a skirmish ensued in which 2 Union men were wounded. Company F, 15th Michigan, was deployed as skirmishers on the hill toward Chewalla, but were soon attacked by a strong force and driven off. Oliver then withdrew to a point some 3 miles nearer Corinth, his rear guard keeping up a continued skirmish the greater part of the way. Scouting parties sent up the Memphis & Charleston railroad brought back the information that a large force of Confederates were advancing along the line of the railroad. About this time Oliver received orders from Rosecrans to retire across Cane creek, which was done in good order, and his troops were then disposed to guard against an attack during the night. Along the north and east sides of Corinth, about 2 miles from the town, was a line of intrenchments, extending from the Chewalla road on the northwest to the Mobile & Ohio railroad on the south, that had been thrown up by Beauregard's army before the evacuation in May, while nearer the town was a line of redoubts of a much more substantial character. East of the Mobile & Ohio railroad was Battery Powell; between the Mobile & Ohio and the Memphis & Charleston roads, on the northwest of the town, was Battery Robinett; farther south, in the order named, stood Batteries Phillips, Tannrath and Lothrop, and southeast of the town, near the Memphis & Charleston road, was Battery Madison. During the last four days of September these works had been strengthened and the trees in the vicinity of Battery Robinett had been felled to form an abatis. At 1.30 a. m. on the 3d Rosecrans issued orders for the disposition of troops as follows: Hamilton's division on the right, to the east of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, and just inside the outer line of works; Davies on Hamilton's left, his right resting on the railroad; to the left of Davies was McKean, with Allen's brigade, now commanded by Brigadier-General John McArthur, on the Chewalla road, his left resting on the Memphis & Charleston road, and Stanley's division in reserve near Grant's old headquarters. Oliver was still near Alexander's, beyond the works, and Mizner's cavalry was so distributed as to keep a watch on the enemy's movements. The men were provided with three days' rations and 100 rounds of ammunition, and by a little after daylight were in their assigned positions. Van Dorn advanced, skirmishing with Oliver, who retired slowly and took up a position on a hill just inside the outer works and not far from the Memphis & Charleston railroad. By 10 a. m. the Confederates deployed in line of battle, with Lovell in front of McKean, Maury on Lovell's left, and Hebert in front of Davies. Van Dorn's purpose was to have Lovell open the fight, in the hope that Rosecrans would weaken his right to reinforce McKean, when Price would make the main assault against the Federal right and enter the works. Lovell made a determined attack on Oliver, and as soon as he became engaged Maury opened the fight with Davies' left. McArthur quickly moved four regiments to Oliver's support and at the same time Davies advanced his line to the intrenchments. These movements left a gap between Davies and McKean, through which the Confederates forced their way about 1.30 p. m. and the whole Union line fell back to within half a mile of the redoubts, leaving 2 pieces of artillery in the hands of the enemy. During this part of the action General Hackleman was killed and General Oglesby seriously wounded. About 3 p. m. Hamilton was ordered to change front and attack the Confederates on the left flank, but through a misunderstanding of the order and the unmasking of a force on Buford's front so much time was lost that it was sunset before the division was in position for the movement, and it had to be abandoned. Van Dorn in his report says: "One hour more of daylight and victory would have soothed our grief for the loss of the gallant dead who sleep on that lost but not dishonored field." But one hour more of daylight would have hurled Hamilton's fresh brigades on the enemy's left and rear, which would in all probability have driven Van Dorn from the field and made the second day's battle unnecessary. So far the advantage had been with the Confederates, Rosecrans had been driven back at all points, and night found his entire army except pickets inside the redoubts. During the night the Confederates slept on their arms within 600 yards of the Union works, and Van Dorn readjusted his lines for the attack on the morrow. Lovell, still forming the right, was south of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, in front of Batteries Phillips and Williams and College hill. Maury touched Lovell's left, his right resting on the Purdy road north of the town. To the east of that road lay Hebert's division. On the Federal side McKean was on the extreme left, occupying College hill and Battery Phillips. Next came Stanley, who held Batteries Williams and Robinett. To the east of the Mobile & Ohio railroad was Davies, his right occupying Battery Powell, and Hamilton's division, facing north, was on the extreme right. Part of Stanley's division was held as a reserve, with instructions to aid in protecting McKean's flank or to move north of town as might be required. At 4:30 a. m. on the 4th the enemy opened with a 6-gun battery, which was soon silenced, and the Federal troops sprang to arms to resist an attack. But the attack was slow in coming. Van Dorn had directed Hebert to begin the engagement at daylight and the artillery fire was merely preliminary to enable Hebert to get into position for the assault. At 7 o'clock Hebert sent word that he was too ill to lead his division, and Brigadier-General Martin E. Green was ordered to assume command and advance at once. Nearly two hours more elapsed before Green moved to the attack, with four brigades in echelon, until he occupied a position in the woods north of town. There he formed in line, facing south, and made a charge on Battery Powell with two brigades, while the other two attacked Hamilton's line. The assault on the battery was successful, the infantry being driven back and the guns captured. Hamilton repulsed the attack on his position and then sent a portion of his command to the assistance of Davies, who rallied his men, drove the Confederates out of the battery and recaptured the guns. Maury had been engaged sometime before this occurrence. As soon as he heard the firing on his left, he knew that Davies and Hamilton would be kept too busy to interfere with his movements, and gave the order for his division to move straight toward the town. His right encountered a stubborn resistance from Battery Robinett, where a hand-to-hand combat ensued, the enemy being forced to retire with heavy losses in killed and wounded, Colonel Rogers, of the 2nd Texas, being among the killed. Phifer's brigade on the left met with better success, driving back Davies' left flank and entering the town. But their triumph was of short duration, as part of Sullivan's brigade, held as a reserve on Hamilton's left, charged on the Confederates, who were thrown into confusion in the narrow streets, and as they fell back came within range of batteries on both flanks of the Union army, the cross-fire utterly routing them. Cabell's brigade of Maury's division was sent to reinforce the troops that had captured Battery Powell, but before they arrived Davies and Hamilton had recaptured it, and as Cabell advanced against it he was met by a murderous fire that caused his men to beat a hasty retreat without the formality of waiting for orders. Meanwhile Lovell had been skirmishing with the Union left in the vicinity of Battery Phillips, preparatory to a general advance. Before his arrangements were complete he was ordered to send a brigade to Maury's assistance, and soon afterward received orders to place his command so as to cover the retreat of the army. The battle of Corinth was over and before noon the Confederates were in full retreat. Van Dorn attributed his defeat to the failure of Hebert to open the engagement on time, but nevertheless he was superseded by General Pemberton immediately after the battle. Rosecrans' army lost at Corinth 355 killed, 1,841 wounded and 324 missing. The Confederate reports include the casualties at Davis' bridge on the 5th and aggregate 505 killed, 2,150 wounded and 2,183 captured or missing. Owing to the fatigued condition of his troops, Rosecrans postponed pursuit until the next morning. Orders were given for the men to rest and replenish their ammunition, and to be ready to move at daybreak. On the 3d Brigadier-General James B. McPherson, who had been in charge of the work of rebuilding railroads, arrived at Jackson. Grant directed him to organize two unassigned brigades into a provisional division and move at once to Corinth. He arrived there about 4 p. m. on the 4th and reported to Rosecrans, who ordered him to lead the pursuit the next morning. (See Big Hill, and Big Hatchie, Tennessee)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 316-320.


CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, October 5, 1862. Union Brigade. The Union Brigade was made up of detachments from the 8th, 12th and 14th Louisiana,, and the 58th Illinois While the main body of the army was in pursuit of Van Dorn a party of about 100 guerrillas made an attack upon their camp near Corinth. where they were engaged in guarding trains. The guerrillas were repulsed with a loss of 4 killed and 3 wounded. The casualties on the Federal side consisted of 1 teamster being slightly wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 320.


CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, December 9-14, 1862. Expedition under Colonel T. W. Sweeny. Colonel Sweeny of the 52nd Illinois, reporting from Glendale, Mississippi, to Brigadier-General Grenville M. Dodge, says: "I surprised the outpost of the enemy, consisting of 300 men, under Colonel Warren, at Cherokee, and pursued them 5 miles, fighting all the time, when they were reinforced by the main body, 1,400 strong under Colonel Roddey, who, after a sharp engagement, took to flight and fell back on Little Bear creek, a very strong position, 4 miles from Tuscumbia, from which they were driven, after burning the bridge and all their stores and camp equipage. We captured 32 prisoners, a great number of horses, and small arms." No casualties were reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 320.


Corinth, Mississippi, December 23, 1863. Detachment of the 3d Illinois Cavalry. Lieutenant Horton, with 28 men, left Corinth bearing despatches to General Mower. When about 10 miles from the city he was ambushed and 2 of the men were killed. He was then pursued by some 200 Confederates to the outer line of the Corinth works, but without suffering any further casualties.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 320.

CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, January 19, 1865. 3d Division, Detachment of the Army of the Tennessee. The itinerary of the division for this date says: "Marched to Corinth, driving out Ross' brigade of the enemy, who retreated with slight skirmishing." This is the only official mention of the occurrence. Corinth, Mississippi (Note.) In addition to engagements at Corinth, specific accounts of which are given above, numerous brushes with the enemy occurred in the town and its immediate vicinity. The official records of the war mention skirmishes on August 28, 1862; June 11, August 16, November 2 and 12, 1863; and June 10, 1864. In the last named the 2nd New Jersey cavalry is mentioned as the Federal organization participating. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 320.


CORINTH ROAD, TENNESSEE, April 8, 1862. 5th and 6th Divisions, Army of the Tennessee. The battle of Shiloh was fought on the 6th and 7th and on the morning of the 8th Generals Sherman and Wood advanced their divisions for a reconnaissance on the Corinth road to discover the movements of the retreating Confederates. Upon reaching the forks of the road Sherman sent forward some cavalry on each road, Wood supporting on the left hand road and Sherman on the right. After proceeding about half a mile Sherman's advance discovered an extensive camp of the enemy beyond an open field. Two companies of the 77th Ohio infantry were thrown forward as skirmishers and the 4th Illinois cavalry was held ready to charge. But the enemy assumed the offensive, charged and broke through the skirmish line, threw the supporting regiment and the cavalry into confusion, many of the men throwing away their arms in their disorderly retreat. A short distance in the rear was the Hildebrand's brigade in line of battle, upon which the troops were rallied and a countercharge was made by the 4th Illinois, which drove the Confederates back to their camp. The whole brigade was then advanced, when the camp was found to be deserted, a large quantity of equipage and ammunition having been abandoned in the hasty departure. The camp and stores were destroyed and the two divisions returned to Pittsburg landing. Sherman's loss was 15 killed and about 25 wounded, which were the only casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


CORINTH ROAD, MISSISSIPPI, April 24-25, 1862. Cornersville Pike, Tennessee, January 28, 1864. (See Lee's House, same date.)


CORLEY, Manuel Simeon…….. announced as an abolitionist and threatened with expulsion the state. He defended himself in articles openly avowing his principles, which were only received by the newspapers at advertising rates.  In 1852 he made a tour through the north, and wrote a series of letters directed against sectionalism to the "Southern Patriot.” In 1855-6 he edited the South Carolina "Temperance Stand” A patent for a new system for cutting cloth was issued to him in 1857. He was one of the few opponent of secession in South Carolina in  1860, was compelled to serve as a conscript in the Confederate Army in 1863, and after his capture by the national troops at Petersburg, 2 April, 1865, joyfully took the oath of allegiance and returned to his home. He opposed the policy of Andrew Johnson and Governor Perry, advocated reconstruction in 1866, and was a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1867, in which he introduced the resolutions to remove the provisional government, opposed the repudiation of the slave £ and advocated the present homestead law of the state. He was elected to Congress in 1868, and, after the removal of his technical disabilities, took his seat on 25 July, 1868, and served till 3 March, 1869. He introduced joint resolutions for the better protection of loyal men in the reconstructed states and the exclusion of secessionist text-books from the schools, and earnestly supported the 15th amendment. In 1869 he was appointed a special agent of the U. S. treasury Department. He was commissioner of the state board of agricultural statistics in 1870, treasurer of Lexington county in 1874, and a nominee of the independent party for state comptroller in 1882. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 739-40


CORN'S FARM, TENNESSEE, February 6, 1865. Detachment of 42nd Missouri Infantry and Hillsborough Home Guards. This engagement was the attack by a Union force of 6 men under Lieutenant William F. Haines on 3 Confederates at the farm of Jack Corn in Franklin county. It resulted in the killing of 1 of the enemy and the capture of the horses and accouterments of all 3.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


CORNING, Erastus, merchant, born in Norwich, Connecticut, 14 December, 1794; died in Albany, New York, 9 April, 1872. At the age of thirteen he settled in '. where he served as a clerk in the hardware store of his uncle, Benjamin Smith. In 1814 he moved to Albany and entered the business house of James Spencer, becoming later a member of the firm. After inheriting the greater portion of his uncle's property, he became head of the extensive hard- warehouse of Erastus Corning & Company He also acquired a large interest in the Albany iron-works, which, under his management, became one of the largest industrial establishments in the United States. His attention was then directed to banking, a business which he followed for many years with success. His greatest work was in connection with the development of the railroad system of  New York state. He was made president of the pioneer Albany and Schenectady line, and its extension was largely the results of his efforts. He was the master-spirit of the consolidation that made the great New York Central road, and was president of that corporation for twelve years, continuing as a director until his death. He became prominent in Albany politics, and held the office of mayor. From 1842 till 1845 he was a member of the state senate, and he was elected as a Democrat to Congress, serving from 7 December, 1857, till 3 March, 1859, and again from 4 July, 1861, till 3 March, 1863. He was again re-elected but resigned on account of failing health. He was a member of the Peace Congress held in Washington in 1861. He was elected a Regent of the University of the State of New York in 1833, and at the time of his death was vice-chancellor of the board. Mr. Corning acquired great wealth, and his estate at the time of his death was estimated at $8,000,000. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 742-743


CORNISH, Reverend Samuel Eli, 1795-1858, free African American, New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, abolitionist leader, clergyman, publisher, editor, journalist. Presbyterian clergyman. Published The Colonization Scheme Considered and its Rejection by Colored People and A Remonstrance Against the Abuse of Blacks, 1826.  Co-editor, Freedom’s Journal, first African American newspaper.  Editor, The Colored American, 1837-1839.  Leader and founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS), Manager, AASS, 1834-1837.  In 1840, joined the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (AFASS).  Executive Committee, AFASS, 1840-1855. (Dumond, 1961, pp. 170, 328, 330; Mabee, 1970, pp. 51, 58, 93, 104, 129, 134, 150, 159, 190, 277, 278, 294, 398n20, 415n14, 415n15; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 38-39, 47; Sorin, 1971, pp. 82, 83, 90, 92-93; Abolitionist, Vol. I, No. XII, December, 1833; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 5, p. 527)


CORPOREAL PUNISHMENT, BY STRIPES AND LASHES. Prohibited excepting for the crime of desertion; (Act May 16, 1812 and Act March 2, 1833.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 201).


CORPS. The Articles of War use the word corps in the sense of a portion of the army organized by law with a head and members; or any other military body having such organization, as the marine corps. A regiment is a corps; an independent company is a corps a body of officers with one head is a corps, as the Topographical Engineers. Detachments of parts of regiments, or of whole regiments, united for a particular object, whether for a campaign or a part of a campaign, are not corps in the sense of the Rules and Articles of War, for such bodies have neither head nor members commissioned in the particular body temporarily so united; but the officers with such detachment hold commissions either in the corps composing the detachment, in the army at large, in the marine corps, or militia. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 201).


CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, March 17, 1864. Major Mat. Nolan (Confederate), reporting from Banquete under date of March 21, says: "On Thursday following, the 17th instant, at about n a. m., having concealed my forces in the chaparral, with a picket party of 2 officers and 7 men, in person, I successfully drove into town the enemy's pickets on the south side of the town, killing 1 and wounding 1 man and capturing 1 Enfield rifle." As this is the only report of the affair there is no way of knowing what Union forces were engaged.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, March 22, 1864. Detachment of 20th Iowa Volunteers. Major-General John A. McClernand, commanding the 13th Army Corps, reports under date of March 24, 1864: "Major Thomson, commanding 20th regiment Iowa volunteer infantry, stationed at Aransas Pass, reports, 22nd instant, that a wood party from his command, in boats, having put in at Corpus Christi during a severe norther, was attacked there by a band of partisan rangers under Major Nolan. The rebels were repulsed with the loss of 1 killed and 3 wounded. No loss on our side."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


CORRECTING PROOFS. (See PRINTING.)


CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE ENEMY. Whoever shall be convicted of holding correspondence with or giving intelligence to the enemy, directly or indirectly, shall suffer death or such other punishment as shall be ordered by sentence of a court-martial; (ART. 57.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 201).


CORSE, John Murray, soldier, born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 27 April, 1835. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1857, but immediately resigned and entered the Albany law-school. As soon as he returned to his home in Iowa he was nominated by the Democrats for lieutenant- governor. He entered the U. S. service as major of the 6th Iowa Volunteers in August, 1861, served under General Fremont, and then as judge-advocate and inspector-general on the staff of General Pope; but after the victories of Island No. 10 and Shiloh preferring active service, joined his regiment, and became its colonel. He commanded a division at Memphis, and was commissioned a brigadier-general on 11 August, 1863. He served in the Chattanooga Campaign, distinguished himself at Chickamauga, and was wounded at Missionary Ridge. In Sherman's march to the sea he commanded a division of the 15th Corps. When, after the evacuation of Atlanta, the Confederates crossed the Chattahoochee and destroyed the railroad, Corse was ordered from Rome to the relief of Allatoona, where large commissary supplies, guarded by 890 men, under Colonel Tourtellotte, were threatened by an infantry division of the enemy. General Corse arrived with 1,054 troops before the Confederates; but when the latter came up, being greatly superior in numbers, they closely surrounded the position. To the summons of the Confederate general, French, to surrender and avoid a needless effusion of blood, General Corse returned a defiant answer. The Confederates, numbering 4,000 or 5,000, attacked the fortifications furiously, 5 October. 1864, but were repeatedly driven back. General Sherman, who had despatched a corps to attack the Confederate rear, signaled from Kenesaw mountain, where he heard the roar of battle, eighteen miles away, for the commander to hold out, as relief was approaching; and when he learned by the sun-telegraph that Corse was in command, he said: "He will hold out; I know the man." General Corse's ear and cheek-bone were shot away during the engagement, but he continued to direct his men. At the approach of the relieving force, the assailants retired. General Sherman made the brave defence of Allatoona the subject of a general order, emphasizing the principle in warfare that fortified posts should be defended to the last, without regard to the strength of the attacking force. Corse received the brevet of major-general, 5 October, 1864. After the war, General Corse was for two years (1867-'9) collector of internal revenue in Chicago, Illinois He then spent four years in Europe, and on his return engaged in railroad contracting, and built several hundred miles of road in the neighborhood of Chicago. In 1881 he moved to Massachusetts, residing in Boston and in Winchester, where he settled in 1882, after marrying for his second wife a niece of Franklin Pierce, he was a vigorous opponent of General Butler in his political campaigns, and became chairman of the Executive Committee in the Democratic state central committee. On 9 October, 1886, he was appointed postmaster of Boston. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 747.


CORSE, Montgomery Dent, soldier, born in Alexandria (then in the District of Columbia), 14 March, 1816. He served as a captain in the Mexican War, and lived in California from April, 1849, till December, 1856, when he returned to Virginia and became a banker in Alexandria. He entered the Confederate service in May, 1861, as colonel of the 17th Virginia regiment. He was wounded in the second battle of Bull Run, and engaged at Boonsboro and Antietam. He was commissioned a brigadier-general in November, 1862, commanded a brigade in Pickett's division in the expedition against Knoxville, and was captured at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, on 6 April, 1865. After the war he resumed the business of a banker and broker at Alexandria till 1874. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 747


CORSON, Edward T., surgeon, born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 14 October, 1834; died in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, 22 June, 1864. He entered the U.S. Navy as assistant surgeon, 20 May, 1859, and was ordered to China and Japan in the U. S. steamer "Hartford," where he remained until the winter of 1861. He was subsequently, for a short time, at the naval asylum, Philadelphia, and, upon application for sea service, was ordered to the "Mohican," returning, after a cruise of 40,000 miles, without the loss of a man by sickness, He was promoted to surgeon, 31 July, 1862. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 747


CORWIN, Thomas, 1794-1865, Lebanon, Ohio, attorney, statesman, diplomat, opposed slavery, U.S. Congressman, Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Treasury.  Director of the American Colonization Society, 1833-1834.  (Mitchell, 2007, p. 33, 35, 160, 172, 173, 266n; Rodriguez, 2007, p. 403; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 751; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 457; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 5, p. 549; Staudenraus, P. J. The African Colonization Movement, 1816-1865. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, pp. 138, 207)

CORWIN, Thomas, statesman, born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, 29 July, 1794; died in Washington, D. C., 18 December, 1865. In 1798 his father, Matthias, moved to what is now Lebanon, Ohio, and for many years represented his district in the legislature. The son worked on the home farm till he was about twenty years old, and enjoyed very slender educational advantages, but began the study of law in 1815, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1818. His ability and eloquence as an advocate soon gained him an extensive practice. He was first chosen to the legislature of Ohio in 1822, serving seven years, and was chosen to Congress in 1830, from the Miami District as a Whig, of which party he was an enthusiastic member. His wit and eloquence made him a prominent member of the House of Representatives, to which he was re-elected by the strong Whig constituency that he represented for each successive term till 1840, when he resigned to become the Whig candidate for governor of Ohio, and canvassed the state with General Harrison, addressing large gatherings in most of the counties. He was unsurpassed as an orator on the political platform or before a jury. At the election he was chosen by 16,000 majority, General Harrison receiving over 23,000 in the presidential election that soon followed. Two years later, Governor Corwin was defeated for governor by Wilson Shannon, whom he had so heavily beaten in 1840. In 1844 the Whigs again carried the state, giving its electoral vote to Mr. Clay, and sending Mr. Corwin to the U. S. Senate, where he made in 1847 a notable speech against the war in Mexico. He served in the Senate until Mr. Fillmore's accession to the presidency in July, 1850, when he was called to the head of the treasury. After the expiration of Mr. Fillmore's term he returned to private life and the practice of law at Lebanon, Ohio. In 1858 he was returned once more a representative in Congress by an overwhelming majority, and was re-elected with but slight opposition in 1860. On Mr. Lincoln's accession to the presidency he was appointed minister to Mexico, where he remained until the arrival of Maximilian, when he came home on leave of absence, and did not return, remaining in Washington and practicing law, but taking a warm interest in public affairs, and earnestly co-operating in every effort to restore peace. His style of oratory was captivating, and his genial and kindly nature made him a universal favorite. His intemperate speech against the Mexican War hindered his further political advancement. He was a faithful public servant, led a busy life, lived frugally, and, although he had been secretary of the U. S. treasury, failed to secure a competency for his family. See the “Life and Speeches” of Thomas Corwin, edited by Isaac Strohn (Dayton. 1859).—His brother, Moses B., born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, 5 January, 1790; died in Urbana, Ohio, 7 April, 1872, received a common-school education, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1812, and practised at Urbana. He was a member of the legislature in 1838-'9, and was elected as a Whig to Congress in 1848, against his son, John A., who was nominated as a Democrat. He was again elected in 1854.  Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 751.


CORWINE, Amos Breckinridge, journalist, born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1815; died in New Rochelle, Ohio, 22 June, 1880. His early years were spent on his father's plantation in Mississippi. He published the Yazoo “Banner” from 1840 to 1844. He served during the Mexican War, being a lieutenant in the Mississippi regiment commanded by Jefferson Davis, and was severely wounded at Buena Vista. After that war, in partnership with his brother Samuel, he edited the Cincinnati “Chronicle.” During the administrations of Presidents Tyler and Fillmore he was U. S. consul at Panama. In 1856 he was sent by President Pierce to investigate the Panama massacres, and on his report were based the treaty and adjustment of damages between the United States and New Granada. He was re-appointed consul, and remained in Panama until 1861, when he was removed. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 751.


Corydon, Indiana, July 9, 1863. Indiana Home Guards; Morgan's raid. Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle, reporting to General Hartsuff, under date of July 9, 1863, says: "The citizens of Corydon resisted Morgan, and several were killed in the fight." The affair was an incident of Morgan's Ohio raid.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


COSINE. The complement of the sine. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 201).


COTEAU, MINNESOTA, May 18, 1865. Scouts of District of Minnesota. A party of 5 Indian scouts discovered and attacked a war party of 8 Sioux Indians and pursued them for more than 25 miles, killing 3 and compelling the others to abandon their clothing, arms, etc., in order to make their escape. The affair took place at the head of the Coteau river, 20 miles from Wadsworth.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


COTILE LANDING, LOUISIANA, April 25, 1864. Cottage Grove, Tennessee, March 21, 1863. Troops not mentioned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


COTTON CREEK, FLORIDA, March 25, 1865. (See Canoe Creek.)


COTTON HILL, VIRGINIA, October 13, 1861.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 321.


COTTON HILL, WEST VIRGINIA, September 11, 1862. (See Kanawha Valley Campaign.)


COTTON PLANT, ARKANSAS, May 14, 1862. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COTTON PLANT, ARKANSAS, April 21, 1864. U. S. Forces under Colonel C. C. Andrews. This affair was a skirmish on the Cache river. The Confederates fled across the stream, leaving 60 head of serviceable horses in the hands of the Federal force.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COTTON PLANT, ARKANSAS, April 22, 1864. Detachment 8th Missouri Cavalry. The only mention of this affair is the report of Major William J. Teed of the 8th Missouri cavalry, which states that Colonel Matthews had a fight 18 miles above Cotton Plant, and was forced to return. Two men were killed and Lieutenant Clark and 18 men wounded. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COTTON PORT FORD, TENNESSEE, September 30, 1863. Battalion 1st Ohio Cavalry. During the pursuit of Wheeler this battalion under Major James M. Scott was guarding Cotton Port ford. The Confederates crossed in force and after throwing a few shells into the Federal ranks attempted to surround the command. Scott, however, succeeded in escaping with a loss of 15 men captured.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COTTON RIVER BRIDGE, GEORGIA, November 16, 1864. 15th Army Corps. On the march to Lovejoy's Station the corps, commanded by Major-General P. J. Osterhaus, encountered a body of Confederate cavalry near Cotton river. The enemy retreated before Osterhaus' advance, setting fire to the bridge, but some mounted infantry, which was in close pursuit extinguished the flames and in less than an hour the bridge was repaired and the pursuit continued. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COUCH, Darius Nash, soldier, born in South East, Putnam County, New York, 23 July, 1822. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1840, and assigned to the 4th U.S. Artillery, with which he served in the Mexican War, gaining the brevet of first lieutenant, 23 February, 1847, for gallant conduct at Buena Vista. He received his full commission on 4 December, served against the Seminoles in 1849-50, and in 1853, when on leave of absence, made an exploring expedition into Mexico, which is thus mentioned in the U. S. Senate Reports of "Explorations and Surveys for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean " (1853-6), "Should there be two species, and the smaller not named, I shall propose to call it C. Couehii, in honor of its indefatigable discoverer, Lieutenant D. M. Couch, who, at his own risk and cost, undertook a journey into northern Mexico, when the country was swarming with bands of marauders, and made large collections in all branches of zoology, which have furnished a great amount of information respecting the natural history of our borders, and the geographical distribution of vertebrata generally. Lieutenant Couch wrote an account of his expedition, entitled "Notes of Travel," but it is still in manuscript. He resigned on 30 April, 1855, was a merchant in New York City in 1855-'7, and engaged in manufacturing at Norton, Massachusetts, from 1858 till 15 June, 1861, when he became colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Volunteers. He was made brigadier-general of volunteers in August, his commission dating from 17 May, and on the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac was assigned a division in General Keyes's Corps, with which he distinguished himself at Fair Oaks, Williamsburg, and Malvern Hill. He was promoted to major- general on 4 July, 1862, commanded a division in the retreat from Manassas to Washington, 30 August to 2 Sept, and took part in the battle of Antietam in Franklin's Corps. He was soon afterward in command of the 2d Army Corps, and took a prominent part in Burnside's operations at Fredericksburg, and Hooker's at Chancellorsville. From 11 June, 1863, till 1 December, 1864, he commanded the Department of the Susquehanna, and was engaged in organizing Pennsylvania militia to resist Lee's invasion of July, 1863. He was at the head of the 2d Division of the 23d Army Corps from December, 1864, till May, 1865, was at the battle of Nashville, and took part in the operations in North Carolina, in February, 1865, to effect a junction with Schofield. He resigned on 26 May 1865, and was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of Massachusetts. He was collector of the port of Boston from 1 October, 1866, till 4 March. 1867, when the failure of the Senate to confirm his appointment forced him to vacate the office. He became president of a Virginia Mining and Manufacturing Company in 1867, but subsequently moved to Norwalk Connecticut, was quartermaster-general of the state of Connecticut in 1877-8. and adjutant-general in 1883-4. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 753.


COUDIN, Robert, soldier, born in Jamaica, Vermont, 18 September, 1805; died in Boston, Massachusetts , 9 July, 1874. His grandfather, Thomas Coudin, held a military commission under George II. Robert was educated in his native town, and in 1825 came to Boston, where he engaged in the lumber business. Before the Civil War he was colonel of the old 2d Massachusetts Militia Regiment. He was commissioned colonel of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers on 25 May, 1861, and left for the seat of war on 15 June. His was the first regiment that volunteered "for three years or the war." Among the battles in which Colonel Coudin took part were Bull Run, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill and Chantilly. At the battle of Bull Run, his horse being shot under him, he marched at the head of his men, loading and firing with them.  For bravery at Williamsburg he was recommended for promotion by General Hooker, and received his brigadier-general's commission on 26, Sept 1862. His appointment expired on 4 March, 1863. At the close of the war he became captain of the "Ancient and honorable Artillery Company of Boston, and was director of various public institutions.—His son, Robert Jackson, born in Boston, 21 May, 1839; died in 1864, entered the army as a private in his father's regiment. He rose by bravery on the battle-field to be captain in the 56th Massachusetts Regiment, and was probably killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, 3 June, 1864, as he was never heard from after that day. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 753-754.


COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION. Under the act of Congress of July 5, 1838, the council of administration may, from time to time, employ such person as they think proper to officiate as chaplain; who shall also perform the duties of schoolmaster at such post. The chaplain is paid on the certificate of the commanding officer, not exceeding forty dollars per month, as may be determined by the said council of administration with the approval of the Secretary of War. Councils of administration fix a tariff to the prices of sutler's goods regulate the sutler in other matters, and make appropriations for specific objects determined by regulations from the post and regimental funds. Those funds are collected in great part by savings of flour, in making bread by troops. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, pp. 201-202).


COUNCIL OF WAR. An assemblage of the chief officers in the army, summoned by the general to concert measures of importance. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNSEL. All writers admit it to be the custom to allow a prisoner to have counsel. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNTER-BATTERY. When a number of guns are placed behind a parapet, for the purpose of dismounting or silencing by direct fire the guns in an enemy's work, it is called a counter-battery. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNTERFORTS are the buttresses by which the revetment walls are backed and strengthened interiorly. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNTERGUARD is a work composed of two faces, forming a salient angle, sometimes placed before a bastion, sometimes before a ravelin, and sometimes before both, to protect them from being breached. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNTERMINES are galleries excavated by the defenders of a fortress, to intercept the mines, and to destroy the works of the besiegers. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202 ).


COUNTERSCARP. The outer boundary of the ditch revetted with masonry in permanent fortification to make the ditch as steep as possible. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNTERSIGN. A particular word given out by the highest in command, intrusted to those employed on duty in camp and garrison, and exchanged between guards and sentinels. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUNTERSLOPE. In the case of a revetment, the slope is within instead of on the outside; and is usually formed in steps. In the case of a parapet, the slope is upwards instead of downwards. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUP D'OEIL. The art of distinguishing by a rapid glance the weak points of an enemy's position, and of discerning the advantages and disadvantages offered by any given space of country, or selecting with judgment the most advantageous position for a camp or battle-field. Experience is a great aid in the acquisition of this necessary military faculty, but experience and science alone will not give it. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUP DE MAIN. A sudden and vigorous attack. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COUPURES are short retrenchments made across the face of any work, having a terre-plein. The ditch of the coupure is carried quite across the terre-plein, and through the parapet of the work in which it is formed, but not through the revetment. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 202).


COURT-MARTIAL. Any general officer commanding an army, or colonel commanding a separate department, may appoint general court-martials whenever necessary; (ART. 65.) General courts-martial may consist of any number of commissioned officers, from five to thirteen, but they shall not consist of less than thirteen, where that number can be convened without manifest injury to the service; (ART. 64.) But no sentence of a court-martial shall be carried into execution until after the whole proceedings shall have been laid before the officer ordering the same, or the officer commanding the troops for the time being; neither shall any sentence of a general court-martial, in time of peace, extending to the loss of life, or the dismission of a commissioned officer, or which shall, either in time of peace or war, respect a general officer, be carried into execution, until after the whole proceedings shall have been transmitted to the Secretary of War, to be laid before the President of the United States for his confirmation or disapproval, and orders in the case. All other sentences may be confirmed and executed by the officer ordering the court to assemble, or the commanding officer for the time being, as the case may be; (ART. 65.) Whenever a general officer commanding an army, or a colonel commanding a separate department, shall be the accuser or prosecutor of any officer of the army under his command, the general court-martial for the trial of such officer shall be appointed by the President of the United States, and the proceedings and sentence of the said court shall be sent directly to the Secretary of War to be laid by him before the President for his confirmation or approval or orders in the case; (Act May 29, 1830.) Every officer commanding a regiment or corps may appoint, for his own regiment or corps, courts-martial to consist of three commissioned officers, for the trial and punishment of offences not capital, and decide upon their sentences. For the same purpose, all officers commanding any of the garrisons, forts, barracks, or other places where troops consist of different corps, may assemble courts-martial, to consist of three commissioned officers, and decide upon their sentences; (ART. 66.) No garrison or regimental court-martial shall have the power to try capital cases, or commissioned officers; neither shall they inflict a fine exceeding one month's pay, nor imprison, nor put to hard labor, any non- commissioned officer or soldier, for a longer time than one month; (ART. 67.) The judge-advocate, or some person deputed by him, or by the general, or officer commanding the army, detachment, or garrison, shall prosecute in the name of the United States, but shall so far con- sider himself as counsel for the prisoner, after the said prisoner shall have made his plea, as to object to any leading question to any witness, or any question to the prisoner, the answer to which might tend to criminate himself; and administer to each member of the court, before they proceed upon any trial, the oath prescribed in the Articles of War for General, Regimental and Garrison Courts- martial. The president of the court then administers an oath to the judge-advocate; (ART. 69.) If a prisoner when arraigned stands mute, the trial goes on as if he pleaded not guilty; (ART. 70.) If a member be challenged by a prisoner the court judges of the relevancy of the challenge. Only one member can be challenged at a time; (ART. 71.) All members are to behave with decency and calmness, and in giving their votes to begin with the youngest; (ART. 72.) All persons who give evidence are examined on oath or affirmation; (ART. 73.) On trials of cases not capital before courts-martial, the deposition of witnesses, not in the line or staff of the army, may be taken before some justice of the peace and read in evidence; provided the prosecutor and person accused are present at the taking of the same, or are duly notified thereof; (ART. 74.) No officer shall be tried but by a general court-martial, nor by officers of inferior rank, if it can be avoided. Nor shall trials be carried on except between 8 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, excepting in cases requiring immediate example in the opinion of the officer ordering the court; (ART. 75.) No person to use menacing words, signs, or gestures before a court-martial, or cause any disorder or riot, or disturb their proceeding, on the penalty of being punished at the discretion of the said court-martial; (ART. 76.) (Consult DE HART, KENNEDY, and SIMMONS; See ADDRESS; ALIBI; AMICUS CURI.E; APPEAL; ARREST; CHALLENGE OF MEMBERS; CHARACTER; CHARGES; CONTEMPT; COUNSEL; CRIMES; CUSTOM OF WAR; DEATH; DECISIONS; DEFENCE; DISMISSION; EVIDENCE; FALSEHOOD; FINDING; JUDGE-ADVOCATE; JURISDICTION; MISNOMER; NEW MATTER; NOTES; OATH; PLEA; PRESIDENT; PRISONERS; PROCEEDINGS; PROSECUTORS; QUESTIONS; RECOMMENDATION; REJOINDER; REPLY; REVISION; SENTENCE; SUMMING UP; SUSPENDED; TRIAL; VERDICT; VOTES; WITNESSES; and References under the heading ARTICLES OF WAR.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, pp. 202-210).


COURT OF INQUIRY. In cases where the general or commanding officer may order a court of inquiry to examine into the nature of any transaction, accusation, or imputation, against any officer or soldier, the said court shall consist of one or more officers, not exceeding three, and a judge-advocate, or other suitable person as a recorder, to reduce the proceedings and evidence to writing, all of whom shall be sworn to the faithful performance of duty. This court shall have the same power to summon witnesses as a court-martial, and to examine them on oath. But they shall not give their opinion on the merits of the case, excepting they shall be thereto specially required. The parties accused shall also be permitted to cross-examine and interrogate the witnesses, so as to investigate fully the circumstances in the question; (ART. 91.) The proceedings of a court of inquiry must be authenticated by the signature of the recorder and the president, and delivered to the commanding officer, and the said proceedings may be admitted as evidence by a court-martial, in cases not capital, or extending to the dismission of an officer, provided that the circumstances are such that oral testimony cannot be obtained. But courts of inquiry are prohibited, unless directed by the President of the United States, or demanded by the accused; (ART. 92.)

The court may be ordered to report the facts of the case, with or without an opinion thereon. Such an order will not be complied with, by merely reporting the evidence or testimony; facts being the result, or conclusion established by weighing all the testimony, oral and documentary, before the court.

When a court of inquiry is directed to be assembled, the order should state whether the court is to report the facts or not, and also whether or not it is to give an opinion on the merits. The court should also be instructed, whether its attention is to be extended to a general investigation, or to be confined to the examination of particular points only, as the case may seem to require, in the judgment of the officer under whose authority it is assembled. Where the subject is multifarious, the court should be instructed to state its opinion on each point separately, that the proper authority may be able to form his judgment.

The court may sit with open or closed doors, according to the nature of the transaction to be investigated. The court generally sits with open doors; but there may be delicate matters to be examined into, that might render it proper to sit with doors closed.

The form of proceeding, in courts of inquiry, is nearly the same as that in courts-martial: the members being assembled, and the parties interested called into court, the judge-advocate, or recorder, by direction of the president, reads the order by which the court is constituted, and then administers to the members the following oath: “ You shall well and truly examine and inquire, according to your evidence, into the matter now before you, without partiality, favor, affection, prejudice, or hope of reward: so help you God; “ (ART. 93.)

The accusation is then read, and the witnesses are examined by the court; and the parties accused are also permitted to cross-examine and interrogate the witnesses, so as to investigate fully the circumstances in question; (ART. 91.)

The examination of witnesses being finished, the parties before the court may address the court, should they see fit to do so; after which the president orders the court to be cleared. The recorder then reads over the whole of the proceedings, as well for the purpose of correcting the record, as for aiding the memory of the members of the court. After mature deliberation on the evidence adduced, they proceed to find a state of facts, if so directed by the order constituting the court, and to declare whether or not the grounds of accusation are sufficient to bring the matter before a general court-martial; and also to give their opinion of the merits of the case, if so required.

The court should be careful to examine the order by which it is constituted, and be particular in conforming to the directions contained therein, either by giving a general opinion on the whole matter, a statement of facts only, or an opinion on such facts. The proceedings of courts of inquiry have been returned to be reconsidered, when the court has been unmindful of these points.

It has been settled that a member of a court of inquiry may be objected to, for cause.

The proceedings must be authenticated by the signatures of the president and recorder, and delivered to the commanding officer or authority which ordered the court; and the said proceedings may be admitted in evidence by a court-martial, in cases not capital, nor extending to the dismission of an officer, provided oral testimony cannot be obtained; (ART. 92.)

Transactions may become the subject of investigation by courts of inquiry after the lapse of any number of years, on the application of the party accused, or by order of the President of the United States; the limitation mentioned in the 88th Article of War, being applicable only to general courts-martial.

It is not necessary to publish the proceedings or opinion of the court, although it is usually done in general orders. The court is dissolved by the authority that ordered it to convene. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 210-212).


COURTABLEAU BAYOU, LOUISIANA, May 22, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COURTLAND, ALABAMA, July 25, 1862. Two companies of 10th Kentucky, and detachment of 1st Ohio Cavalry. Companies A and H of the l0th Kentucky and a part of Captain Eggleston's company of Ohio cavalry constituted the guard at the railroad bridge near Courtland. About 8 a. m. it was attacked by a strong force of Confederate cavalry and after a resistance of about half an hour was obliged to surrender. The loss of the surrendered party was 1 killed and 3 wounded. Captain Henry G. Davidson commanded the Federal guard.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322.


COURTLAND, ALABAMA (EXPEDITION TO), April 15-May 2, 1863. 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps. On April 15 Brigadier-General G. M. Dodge with this division moved east from Corinth, Mississippi, into Alabama. Not until the third day out did the command encounter the enemy, when it met with some opposition to its crossing Great Bear creek. Through a feint, however, at Jackson's and Ballings' fords, the cavalry was pushed across the stream at Steminine's ford. Colonel Florence M. Cornyn, leading the cavalry, met the Confederates after he had proceeded a mile from the ford, the enemy falling back slowly for 4 miles. Roddey, the Confederate commander, meantime got between the Union cavalry and infantry. Colonel Moses M. Bane, commanding the 3d brigade, on learning of Roddey's move, immediately pressed forward and fell on the enemy's rear-guard at Cherokee Station. Bane then joined Cornyn at Lundy's Lane, where the latter had just charged Roddey's flank. Cornyn advanced with his cavalry and attempted to draw the enemy into a position where the infantry under Bane could get a cross fire on them. Bane's command, however, fired too quickly and the ambuscade was not wholly successful. Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Phillips, with the mounted infantry of Cornyn's command, had meantime driven another body of Confederates beyond Barton's station. On the 18th (Saturday) Dodge fell back to Great Bear creek with the advance to await Colonel Streight. On Sunday Streight disembarked his troops at Eastport and joined Dodge. Monday and Tuesday the joint forces scoured the country for mounts for Streight's command, which was starting on a raid into Georgia. Early Wednesday morning the column moved on Tuscumbia. About 5 miles from that place, at Rock cut, the enemy showed fight, but the force was dispersed by the artillery fire. On Thursday morning the division crossed the Little Bear creek. The enemy anticipating an attempt of the Union cavalry to get to their rear had retired to Tuscumbia, but when the Union force approached the town it was taken without difficulty. Phillips was sent with two squadrons of cavalry and a section of a battery to take Florence, which was done after a little skirmishing. Cornyn with the remainder of the cavalry was sent in the direction of Courtland to "feel" the enemy. Two miles beyond Leighton he came up with the rear guard of a force of 3,000, and routed them. At midnight on the 26th Streight took his command and started on his raid into Georgia, going south from Tuscumbia. On the 27th Dodge advanced toward Courtland, driving the enemy across Town creek late that evening. The following morning the stream was so swollen that it was impossible to cross by fording and it was necessary to set about building bridges. This work was done under heavy fire from the enemy on the opposite bank. Late in the afternoon word was brought to the Confederate commander that Streight was at Moulton, and thinking that he was heading for Decatur, the whole Confederate force was at once hurried there, allowing Dodge meantime to enter Courtland unmolested. After a few hours' rest in Courtland the command was countermarched to Corinth, reaching there on May 2. The Union loss in killed, wounded and missing did not exceed 100, while the enemy's loss was about three times that number.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 322-323.


COURTLAND, ALABAMA, March 8, 1864. U. S. Forces under Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse J. Phillips. Brigadier-General G. M. Dodge in his report from Pulaski under date of March 11, 1864, says: "After taking Decatur I pushed my forces out under Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips. He captured Courtland, driving the enemy out, and followed them up, crossing the mountains, captured Moulton. We took a number of prisoners, a large amount of stores, and a large quantity of artillery and rifle ammunition; also 100 sacks of salt, stock, etc."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COURTLAND, ALABAMA, July 27, 1864. Detachment of 3d Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps. As an incident of an expedition from Decatur to Courtland, the advance guard of infantry was fired upon as it approached the latter place about 9 a. m. The main force of the enemy was found drawn up in line in a strong position half a mile beyond the town. The Federal forces, under Colonel William T. C. Grower, were deployed and artillery opened on the earthworks. The whole line was then ordered forward, but the Confederates had retreated down the Tuscumbia road. The cavalry was sent in pursuit but failed to come up with the fleeing foe. Two men were killed and 4 wounded in the Union command, while the enemy lost 4 killed and 6 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COURTLAND, TENNESSEE, August 22, 1862. 42nd Illinois Volunteers.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COURTNEY'S PLANTATION, MISSISSIPPI, April 11, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COVE CREEK, ARKANSAS, November 8, 1862.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COVE GAP, WEST VIRGINIA, June 23, 1864 .  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COVE MOUNTAIN, VIRGINIA, May 10, 1864. Averell's Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia. On the afternoon of this date Brigadier-General W. W. Averell attacked some 5,000 Confederates, under Generals Morgan and Jones, in a strongly posted position at Grassy lick on Cove mountain, not far from Wytheville. The fight was opened by the 14th Pennsylvania and 1st Virginia, while Duffle's brigade was formed in line of battle with the 74th Ohio infantry on the right, then the 2nd Virginia, and the 3d Virginia on the extreme left. The enemy pressed both flanks, but the Union troops held their position for 4 hours, when darkness came on and the enemy withdrew. Averell reported his loss as 114 in killed and wounded. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 323.


COVE POINT, MARYLAND, August 22, 1864. Detachment of 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry. This was an attack on 7 men, including a sergeant, who had gone to investigate a case of blockade-running. The men were eating breakfast on the beach when they were fired into by a party of bushwhackers and the sergeant and 2 men fell. The others retreated hastily and on foot, not having time to secure their horses.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 324.


COVERT, John M., physician, born in St. Augustine, Florida, 25 July, 1832; died in Brooklyn, New York, 18 February, 1872. He was graduated at Charleston College, South Carolina, in 1853, and at South Carolina Medical College in 1855. Soon after taking his medical degree he went to Norfolk as a volunteer in a yellow-fever epidemic, and settled there in the practice of his profession. He became surgeon of the 1st Louisiana Volunteers in 1861, and was subsequently medical director on General Lee's staff. He return to Norfolk after the war, and in 1867 volunteered to go to Galveston, Texas, to combat the yellow fever. He moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1869, and at the time of his death was known in literary circles there as an excellent belles-lettres scholar, and the possessor of much poetical talent. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 756.


COVERED WAY. A space between the counterscarp and the crest of the glacis in permanent works, and within the palisades, over which the garrison can run without being seen or subjected to the fire of the enemy. The crowning of the covered way by the besiegers is a difficult operation, and often costs them dearly. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 212).


COVINGTON, GEORGIA, July 21-24, 1864. 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. Garrard's Raid. On the 21st Brigadier-General Kenner Garrard, commanding the division, received orders from General Sherman to move to Covington, about 40 miles east of Atlanta, and destroy the railroad and wagon road bridges in that direction to prevent reinforcements or supplies from reaching Johnston's army from the east. The order was promptly executed and on the 24th Garrard reported the following results: "Three road bridges and one railroad bridge (555 feet in length) over the Yellow river, and one road and one railroad bridge (250 feet in length) over the Ulcofauhachee, were burned. Six miles of railroad track between the rivers were well destroyed. The depot and a considerable quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores at Covington were burnt. One train and locomotive captured at Conyers and burnt. * * * Over 2,000 bales of cotton were burnt. A large new hospital at Covington for the accommodation of 10,000 patients from this army and the Army of Virginia, composed of over 30 buildings besides the offices, just finished, were burnt, together with a very large lot of fine carpenter's tools used in their erection." Garrard also captured and destroyed a large number of hospital tents at Covington, captured 151 prisoners, 11 of whom were commissioned officers, and brought in about 200 negroes. The Union loss during the raid was 2 men, 1 of whom was killed by accident.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 324.

COVINGTON, OR FORT MITCHEL, KENTUCKY, September 10, 1862.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 324.


COVINGTON, LOUISIANA, July 27, 1862. 12th Connecticut Infantry, and section of 2nd Vermont battery. As an incident of an expedition to Lake Pontchartrain this command landed at Covington on the Tchefuncta river. A small party of the enemy was driven from the town. Owing to the heat the stay in town was not long. When the troops had reembarked the boat was fired upon by a force of Confederates concealed in the brush. The fire was promptly returned by both infantry and artillery, and the enemy driven from his position. The casualties in the Union force were 2 who died from sunstroke and 3 wounded in the attack on the vessel.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 324.


COVINGTON, TENNESSEE, March 9, 1863. 6th and 7th Illinois Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition from La Grange, Tennessee, this force under Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson came upon the Confederates under Richardson at Big creek, 3 miles southeast of Covington. Grierson attacked and routed them, killing 2 and wounding 5, and taking some 70 prisoners. No casualties were suffered by the Union force.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 324.


COVINGTON, U. S. S., May 5, 1864. (See Alexandria, Louisiana)


COVINGTON, VIRGINIA, November 9, 1863. Two squadrons 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry. During the expedition against Lewisburg, West Virginia, Major Hedgman Slack, commanding two squadrons of the 8th West Virginia mounted infantry, was sent to drive back a Confederate force hovering upon the Federal right. He had not proceeded far before he met the enemy's scouts and soon afterward their pickets, which were driven for 3 or 4 miles. Near Covington the enemy opened with artillery and the Federals retired. No casualties were reported.


COVINGTON, VIRGINIA, December 19, 1863. (See Jackson's River.)

COVINGTON, VIRGINIA, June 2, 1864. Cowan, Tennessee, October 9, 1863. Detachment of 28th Kentucky Infantry. Lieutenant Robert Cairns with about 70 men was guarding the railroad track and tunnel between Cowan and Tantalon. About 7 p. m., while this guard Page 325 was preparing supper, a cavalry force of the enemy appeared and the Federals scattered and fled in every direction after firing a few desultory shots. No casualties were reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 324-325.


COVODE, John, 1808-1871, abolitionist.  U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, serving 1855-1863, representing the 35th District and the Republican Party.  (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 756; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 470)

COVODE, John, Congressman, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, 17 March, 1808; died in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 11 January, 1871. He was of Dutch descent, spent his early years on a farm, and, after serving a short apprenticeship to a blacksmith, engaged in the coal trade. He afterward became a large woollen manufacturer, and a stockholder and director in several railroad lines. After two terms in the legislature, he was elected to Congress as an anti-masonic Whig in 1854, and re-elected as a Republican in 1856, serving four terms, from 1855 till 1863. In his second term he made a national reputation by his vigor and penetration as chairman of the special committee appointed to investigate charges against President Buchanan. His report, published by order of Congress (Washington, 1860), attracted much attention. He earnestly supported President Lincoln's administration, being an active member of the joint committee on the conduct of the war. President Johnson sent Mr. Covode south to aid in the reconstruction of the disaffected states; but he did not see matters as the president desired, and was recalled. Mr. Covode was again elected to Congress in 1868, his seat being unsuccessfully contested by his opponent, and was active in opposing the president. He was chairman of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania in 1869, and declined a renomination to Congress in 1870. He was recognized in his state as a strong political power. His unthinking impetuosity made him many bitter enemies, but his honesty and geniality won him innumerable friends. He was known as “Honest John Covode.” Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 756.


COW CREEK, KANSAS, November 14-28, 1864. 54th U. S. Colored troops (2nd Arkansas), and 3d Kansas Indian Home Guards.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COW CREEK, KANSAS, December 4, 1864. (See Fort Zarah.)


COW FORD CREEK, Florida, April 2, 1864. Detachment of 14th New York Cavalry. The Federal picket line at Barrancas having been attacked by the 'Confederates, Brigadier-General Alexander Asboth sent Captain Adolph Schmidt with 30 men of Company M, 14th New York cavalry, in pursuit. Schmidt came up with the enemy drawn up in line of battle across the Cow Ford creek, near Pensacola, and immediately charged them, and after a hand-to-hand fight succeeded in killing or wounding 10 or 15 of the number, and capturing 11 men, 6 horses, 21 muskets and 4 sabers. The Federal casualties were 3 men wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COWAN, Edgar, 1815-1885, lawyer.  U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania 1861-1867.  Voted for Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery (Appletons’, 1888, Vol. I, p. 756; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 5, p. 605; Congressional Globe; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 470)

COWAN, Edgar, senator, born in Sewickley, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 19 September, 1815; died in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 29 August, 1885. He was early thrown on his own resources, becoming by turns clerk, boat-builder, school-teacher, and medical student, but finally entered Franklin College, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1839. He then studied law in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In 1861 he was elected to the U. S. Senate by the people's party, and served till 1867, distinguishing himself as a ready and fearless debater. He was chairman of the committees on patents, finance, and agriculture, and a member of that on the judiciary. He was a delegate to the Union Convention at Philadelphia in 1866, and in January, 1867, was appointed minister to Austria, but was not confirmed by the Senate. At the close of his term he resumed the practice of law in Greensburg. Senator Cowan was a man of large proportions and great physical strength, being six feet four inches in height. He published various speeches and addresses in pamphlet form. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 756.             


COWEN, Benjamin S., physician, born in Washington county, New York, in 1793; died in St. Clairsville, Ohio, 27 September, 1869. He was educated in his native place and studied medicine. In 1820 he moved to Moorefield, Harrison County, Ohio, subsequently studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1829. He moved to St. Clairsville in 1832, and after a time edited the Belmont " Chronicle," of which he was proprietor and principal editor until 1852, when he relinquished it to his son, now Brigadier General B. R. Cowen. In 1839 he was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Harrison for president, and in 1840 was elected to Congress by the Whigs, where he succeeded Joshua R. Biddings as chairman of the committee on claims. He took strong ground in favor of the tariff of 1842, and throughout his Congressional career was looked upon as a consistent anti-slavery man. During 1845-6 he was a member of the Ohio legislature, and from 1847 till 1852 was presiding judge of the court of common pleas. At the beginning of the war he was active in raising men and money, and during its continuance his efforts to aid the government never relaxed. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 757.


COWARDICE. In all cases where a commissioned officer is cashiered for cowardice or fraud, it shall be added in the sentence, that the crime, name, and place of abode and punishment of the delinquent be published in the newspapers, after which it shall be deemed scandalous for an officer to associate with him; (ART. 85.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 212 ).


COWLES, Betsy Mix, 1810-1876, educator, reformer, abolitionist.  Organized the Ashtabula County Female Anti-Slavery Society.  Worked closely with abolitionist leader Abby Kelley in the Western Anti-Slavery Society (WASS).  African American and women’s civil rights advocate.  (American National Biography, 2002)


COWLES, Henry, 1803-1881, Austinburgh, Ohio, clergyman, educator, anti-slavery activist, reformer.  Manager, 1834-1836, and founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society, December 1833. (Abolitionist, Vol. I, No. XII, December, 1833; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 757)

COWLES, Henry, clergyman, born in Norfolk, Connecticut, 24 April, 1803; died 6 September, 1881. He was graduated at Yale in 1826, and held Congregational pastorates from 1828 till 1835. He was a professor of theology at Oberlin from 1835 till 1848. He published “Notes” on the Bible (16 vols., New York, 1867-'81); “Hebrew History” (New York, 1873); and other works. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 757.


COWLES, Horace, Farmington, Connecticut, abolitionist. American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS), Manager, 1833-40, 1840-41.


COWPEN FORD, SOUTH CAROLINA, February 6, 1865. 17th Army Corps. This was a skirmish between the advance of the corps and the skirmishers of the enemy, in which the latter were driven back. The casualties were not reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COWSKIN, MISSOURI, August 5-7, 1864. 8th Missouri Militia Cavalry. Lieutenant Malcolm Hunter with 60 men was sent out to locate a band of guerrillas said to be hovering about Cowskin river. The enemy's pickets were located and driven in, but he had not proceeded much farther when the Confederates attacked his rear and flanks. Hunter then commenced falling back, keeping up a running fight for 4 miles, when the enemy retired. The Federals lost 3 killed and 9 missing, while the Confederates lost 3 killed and a number wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COWSKIN BOTTOM, MISSOURI, January 23, 1864. Detachment of the 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Milton Burch with 30 men started to the Seneca Nation to drive out a band of Confederates operating there. The advance guard consisting of 6 men came upon a squad of 10 at a house and charged them, killing 2 and wounding several. The remainder were dispersed in the thick undergrowth of the bottom.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COX, Abby Ann, New York City, abolitionist (Yellin, 1994, p. 41)


COX, Abraham L., 1800-1864, New York, surgeon, opponent of slavery, abolitionist leader.  Founding member and recording secretary of the American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS), 1833-1836.  (Dumond, 1961, p. 218; Sorin, 1971, p. 32n; Abolitionist, Vol. I, No. XII, December, 1833; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I p. 757.


COX, Abraham Siddon, surgeon, born in New York in 1800; died at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, 29 July, 1864. He had been for many years one of the most eminent medical practitioners of New York City. At the beginning of the war he became a surgeon in the army, and at the time of his death was surgeon-in-chief of the 1st Division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. p. 757.


COX, Gershom A., Reverend, clergyman, abolitionist, Maine.  Founder and first Vice President of the Portland Anti-Slavery Society in 1833.


COX, Hannah Pierce [Pearce], 1797-1876, Pennsylvania, abolitionist leader, Underground Railroad activist. (Hersch, 1978; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 53, 246; Smedley, 1969; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 758; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 474)

COX, Hannah, abolitionist, born in Longwood, near Philadelphia, in 1796; died there, 15 April, 1876. She joined the first movement in favor of emancipation, being a co-laborer with Benjamin Lundy, Garrison, Lucretia Mott, and John G. Whittier. For years she and her husband, who survived her in his 91st year, received fugitive slaves. Their golden wedding was celebrated in 1873, when poems were sent by Whittier and Bayard Taylor. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 758.


COX, Jacob Dolson, statesman, born in Montreal, Canada, 27 October, 1828. His parents were natives of the United States, but at the time of his birth were temporarily sojourning in Canada. He spent his boyhood in New York, moved with his Parents to Ohio in 1846, and was graduated at Oberlin in 1851. After leaving college he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1853, and settled in Warren, Ohio. In 1859-'61 he was a member of the state senate, having been elected by the Republicans. At the beginning of the Civil War he held a state commission as brigadier-general of militia, and took an active part in raising troops. He entered the National Army on 23 April, 1861, and three weeks later received the commission of brigadier-general and was assigned to the command of the “Brigade of the Kanawha" in Western Virginia. On 29 July he drove out the Confederates under General Wise, taking and repairing Gauley and other bridges, which had been partially destroyed. General Cox remained in command of this department, with the exception of a short interval, until August, 1862, when he was assigned to the Army of Virginia under General Pope. He served in the 9th Corps at the battle of South Mountain, 14 September, 1862, assuming command when General Reno fell, and also at Antietam, three days later. For his services in this campaign he was commissioned major-general. On 16 April, 1863, General Cox was put in command of the District of Ohio, and also of a division of the 23d Army Corps. He served in the Atlanta Campaign, and under General Thomas in the campaigns of Franklin and Nashville. On 14 March, 1865, he fought the battle of Kingston, North Carolina, and then united his force with General Sherman's army. At the close of the war he resigned his command, and entered on the practice of law in Cincinnati. He was governor of Ohio in 1866-'7, declined the office of commissioner of internal revenue tendered him by President Johnson in 1868, and was secretary of the interior in President Grant's first cabinet from March, 1869, till December, 1870, when, on account of disagreement with certain measures of the administration, he resigned. Returning to Cincinnati, he resumed his legal practice. In October, 1873, he was elected president of the Wabash Railroad, and moved to Toledo to take charge of his new work. In 1876 the Republicans elected him representative to Congress, where he served from 15 October, 1877, till 3 March, 1879. The degree of LL.D. has been conferred upon him by the University of North Carolina, and also by Davison University, Ohio. He has published “Atlanta” and “The March to the Sea; Franklin and Nashville” (New York, 1882). Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 758.


COX, James, soldier, born in Monmouth, New Jersey, 14 June, 1753; died there, 12 September, 1810. His early education was received in the public schools. At the age of twenty-four he commanded a company of militia, and afterward served at the battles of Germantown and Monmouth, attaining to the rank of brigadier-general. He was for many years a  member of the state assembly, and one year its speaker. He was also a representative from New Jersey in the 10th Congress, serving from 22 May, 1800, until his death.—His grandson, Samuel Sullivan, statesman, born in Zanesville, Ohio, 30 September, 1824. He is a son of Ezekiel Taylor Cox, a member of the Ohio Senate in 1832-'8. He attended the Ohio University at Athens, and was graduated at Brown in 1846. During his stay in college he maintained himself by literary work, and obtained the prizes in classics, history, literary criticism, and political economy. Adopting the profession of the law, he returned to Ohio to begin practice, but soon laid it aside, and went to Europe. On his return he became, in 1853, editor of the Columbus, Ohio, "Statesman," and from that time turned his attention to political issues. While editing this journal he published a gorgeous description in sophomoric strain, which procured for him the sobriquet of  “Sunset” Cox. Mr. Cox was offered, in 1855, the secretaryship of legation in London, but declined it. The opportunity was given not long after of going to Lima, Peru, in a similar capacity, and he accepted. He remained in Peru one year, and on his return was elected to Congress, and re-elected three times, serving continuously from 7 December, 1857, till 3 March, 1865. During three terms he was chairman of the committee on Revolutionary claims. Mr. Cox was a delegate to the Chicago, New York, and St. Louis Democratic Conventions of 1864,1868, and 1876. During the Civil War he sustained the government by voting money and men, although he took a prominent part in opposing certain policies of the administration. In 1866 he took up his residence in New York City, and was elected as a representative to Congress in 1868, and re-elected three times. He served on the committees on foreign affairs, banking, the centennial exhibition, and rules. At the opening of the first session of the 45th Congress, in 1877, he was one of three candidates for the speakership. Although not elected, he served frequently as speaker pro tem. In this session he took upon himself, by a special resolution of his own, the work of the new census law. He was the author also of the plan of apportionment adopted by the house. He was the introducer and champion for many years of the bill concerning the life-saving service, and finally witnessed its passage. Mr. Cox's work in Congress included the raising of the salaries of letter-carriers, and granting them a vacation without loss of pay. This latter measure involved an appropriation of $96,000, but its results justified the action. He was on the committee to investigate the doings of Black Friday, Federal elections in cities, the New York post-office, and the Ku-klux troubles. He was also for many years one of the regents of the Smithsonian institution, his term closing in 1865. In 1869 he visited Europe and northern Africa, journeying through Italy, Corsica, Algeria, and Spain. In 1872 he was defeated as candidate at large for the state, but the death of his successful competitor necessitated another election, which resulted in Mr. Cox's return to his seat. He was re-elected in 1874, 1876, 1878, and 1880, serving twelve consecutive years, making a total Congressional service on his part of twenty years. The last effort of Mr. Cox. and for which the Chamber of Commerce of New York City thanked him, was the passage of a law uniting all jurisdictions in the Federal jurisdiction, so as to preserve New York Harbor and its tributaries from destruction. This had passed in the house, but it was defeated on a point of order in the Senate. In the summer of 1882 Mr. Cox visited Sweden, Norway, Russia, Turkey, and Greece. In 1885 he was appointed minister to Turkey, but returned to the United States in October 1886 after a year's absence, and in November was re-elected to Congress. He has a reputation as an effective and humorous speaker, writer, and lecturer. In addition to a large amount of newspaper and magazine work, he has published “The Buckeye Abroad" (New York, 1851); "Puritanism in Politics" (1863); "Eight Years in Congress " (1865); "A Search for Winter Sunbeams" (1870); "Why We Laugh" (1876); "Free Land and Free Trade" (1870); "Arctic Sunbeams" (1882); "Orient Sunbeams" (1882); and "The Three Decades of Federal Legislation " (1885). Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 758-759.


COX, John, Pennsylvania, Underground Railroad activist, abolitionist. (Hersch, 1978; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 53, 246; Smedley, 1969)


COX, Samuel Hanson, 1793-1880 New York, radical abolitionist leader, Presbyterian clergyman, orator. American Anti-Slavery Society. (Sorin, 1971, pp. 74, 114; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 481; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 5, p. 630; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 760; Staudenraus, P. J. The African Colonization Movement, 1816-1865. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, p. 228)

COX, Samuel Hanson, clergyman, born in Rahway, New Jersey, 25 August, 1793; died in Bronxville, Westchester County, New York, 2 October, 1881. His father, who at the time of his death, in 1801, was engaged in mercantile enterprises in New York City, was descended from a family that in the 17th century settled on the eastern shore of Maryland, where the name, diversely spelled, has been long connected with the Quakers of Talbot county. By intermarriages with other families of the Peninsula, this connection was rendered nominal at different periods; but, as the father of Dr. Cox had maintained his relations with the society, he received his academic education at their high-school or college at Westtown, near Philadelphia. He also received private instruction in Philadelphia, and was a law-student in Newark, New Jersey, in 1812, when, with Southard, Frelinghuysen, and others that became eminent, he organized a volunteer Corps of riflemen, which occasionally served in the war, notably at Fort Green, Long Island. He studied theology in Philadelphia under Dr. Wilson, a distinguished Presbyterian clergyman. The degree of M. A. was conferred upon him by Princeton, and that of D. D. by Williams. He was ordained in 1817, and accepted the pastorate of Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey In 1821 he moved to New York as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Spring street, and thence to Laight street in 1825. His congregation here was largely composed of wealthy merchants. He took a leading part in the foundation of the University of the City of New York and in literary conventions, one of which was presided over by John Quincy Adams, called to aid in its organization. He was appointed to open the instructions of the university with the late Dr. McIlvaine, afterward bishop of Ohio, and delivered one of the two memorable courses of lectures in the winter of 1831-'2, his department being that of moral philosophy. During the cholera season of the latter year he remained at his post until stricken down by the disease. In impaired health Dr. Cox went to Europe in 1833, where a speech, delivered at the anniversary of the British and foreign Bible Society in London, gained him distinction and opened the way to honors and attentions in Europe. The anti-slavery sentiment then predominant in England made a great impression on Dr. Cox, and he publicly defended his country, when it was gratuitously assailed on that point, and delivered a celebrated sermon against slavery, soon after his return, which, though moderate in tone, drew upon him a great share of the violence with which the agitators were then visited. He was never identified with their extreme measures, and afterward took a leading conservative position in all questions connected with the south, which for a long time disturbed the Presbyterian Church. In recognition of this service to the counsels of his brethren, he received the degree of LL. D. from a Southern College. In other questions his theological standing was with the new school, of which he was a prominent champion. In the order and discipline of his church, however, he maintained the highest and most thorough old-school position. He was elected professor of pastoral theology in the Theological seminary at Auburn in 1834, but in 1837 became pastor of the 1st Presbyterian congregation in Brooklyn, Long Island, where he built a new church in Henry street. In 1845 Dr. Cox attended the Evangelical alliance in London. In 1852, his health declining, he visited Nassau, but with so little good effect that, against the remonstrances of his people and the most liberal proposals on their part, he resigned his charge, and retired to a pleasant property, which they enabled him to purchase, at Owego, New York He considered his career as a pastor at an end, but frequently delivered lectures and appeared in pulpits in New York for several years subsequently. He was for many years professor of ecclesiastical history in the Union Theological Seminary of New York. His contributions to periodicals and journalistic literature were numerous. His work on “Quakerism” (1833) is in part an autobiography. In connection with the duties of his chair, he edited Bower's “History of the Popes” (New York, 1847). He also presided for a time over the Ladies' College at Le Roy, New York For the last twelve years of his life he lived in retirement in Westchester county. Although much criticised for personal eccentricities, he was generally recognized as a man of high character and commanding talents, of great boldness in expressing his strong convictions, and of singular power as an orator. Dr. Cox was the eldest of three sons, all of whom attained professional eminence. JAMES died prematurely in Philadelphia in 1830. ABRAHAM LIDON, after a brilliant practice in New York, where he became professor of surgery in the medical College now connected with the New York University, of which he was one of the founders, died in the service of his country near Chattanooga in 1863. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 760


COX'S BRIDGE, NORTH CAROLINA, March 19-20, 1865. 15th Army Corps. On the afternoon of the 19th some 500 Confederate cavalry appeared on the road leading to Cox's bridge and were driven back by a regiment of this corps. Generals Wood and Corse moved their divisions up and took position, while Smith's division was intrenched. The following morning Wever's brigade advanced and drove the enemy across the bridge, compelling him to burn it. The casualties were not reported. The engagement was an incident of the campaign of the Carolinas.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COX'S BRIDGE, NORTH CAROLINA, March 23, 1865. Provisional Army Corps. The pickets of the 3d division were driven in by a reconnaissance of the enemy, who were in turn driven back from the main line. This affair occurred during the campaign of the Carolinas.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COX'S HILL, TENNESSEE, January 3, 1863, 6th Tennessee, parts of the 60th Illinois, 10th Michigan, and 52nd Ohio Infantry, and detachments of the 3d and 4th Ohio and 2nd Tennessee cavalry. In pursuance of orders from General Trewhitt, Colonel Daniel McCook with this command started on the morning of the 3d to escort an ammunition and hospital train from Nashville to Murfreesboro. Seven miles from Nashville, near Blood's, he met General Wheeler and Colonel Wade with 3,000 men and 3 pieces of artillery. The cavalry first engaged the enemy but was driven back in some confusion. The I1l. and Michigan troops moved quickly forward to a commanding position in the timber to the right of the road, opened a destructive fire upon the enemy and put him to flight. The Federal loss was 1 killed and 1 wounded, while the Confederate casualties amounted to 15 killed, 11 wounded and 14 captured. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 325.


COX'S PLANTATION, LOUISIANA, July 12-13, 1863(See La Fourche.)


COYLE TAVERN, VIRGINIA, August 24, 1863. 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 326.