Fighting McCooks facts for kids
The Fighting McCooks were a famous family from Ohio. Many of them became important officers in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Two brothers, Daniel and John McCook, and thirteen of their sons fought in the army. This made them one of the most active military families in American history. Six McCooks became high-ranking generals. Sadly, several family members died in battle or from their injuries. After the war, some McCooks also held important political jobs, like governors or diplomats.
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Who Were the McCook Family?
The McCook family started with Daniel McCook, a lawyer from Pennsylvania. He moved to Carrollton, Ohio in 1826. His younger brother, John, also moved to Ohio. Their families became known as the "Tribe of Dan" and the "Tribe of John."
Another brother, Dr. George McCook, and his son, Dr. George Latimer McCook, helped as volunteer surgeons during the Civil War. Their father, also named George McCook, came from Ireland. He fought in the Whiskey Rebellion a long time ago.
The "Tribe of Dan" Members
Here are some of the brave members from Daniel McCook's family:
- Daniel McCook (1798–1863): He was a major. He was killed in battle at the Battle of Buffington Island during Morgan's Raid.
- Dr. Latimer A. McCook (1820–1869): He was a major in the 31st Illinois Infantry. He was wounded at Vicksburg and again during Sherman's March to the Sea. He died later from his injuries.
- George Wythe McCook (1821–1877): He was a colonel in the 157th Ohio Infantry. He later became the Ohio Attorney General. He also ran for Governor of Ohio.
- Robert Latimer McCook (1827–1862): He was a brigadier general. He was killed by an enemy soldier while he was injured in an ambulance.
- Alexander McDowell McCook (1831–1903): He became a major general. He led the XX Corps during the war.
- Daniel McCook, Jr. (1834–1864): He was a brigadier general. He was killed in action at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
- Edwin Stanton McCook (1837–1873): He was a colonel. He later became the Governor of the Dakota Territory. He was sadly killed while in office.
- Charles Morris McCook (1843–1861): He was a private in the 2nd Ohio Infantry. He was killed in his first battle at the First Battle of Bull Run. He died in his father's arms. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- John James McCook (lawyer) (1845–1911): He was a captain. After the war, he became a well-known lawyer and railroad leader in New York City.
- John James McCook (1823–1842): He died near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was serving as a midshipman in the United States Navy.
The "Tribe of John" Members
Here are some of the brave members from John McCook's family:
- Dr. John James McCook (1806–1865): He was a volunteer surgeon during the Civil War.
- Edward Moody McCook (1833–1909): He was a brigadier general. He later became the Governor of the Colorado Territory.
- Anson George McCook (1835–1917): He was a colonel. After the war, he became a politician.
- Henry Christopher McCook (1837–1911): He was a first lieutenant and a chaplain. He helped the wounded and sometimes joined the fighting.
- Roderick McCook (1839–1886): He was a commander in the Navy. He was the first naval officer to capture an entire Confederate regiment.
- John James McCook (professor) (1843-1927): He was a lieutenant and a chaplain. He was seriously wounded in Northern Virginia and left the service.
Remembering the Fighting McCooks
The Daniel McCook House in Carrollton, Ohio, is now a museum. It helps people remember the family's history. McCook Field, an old air station near Dayton, Ohio, was named after the Fighting McCooks. This air station was used for testing aircraft from 1917 to 1927.
There is a special stone memorial for Daniel McCook, Jr. at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. A marker for his father is on State Route 124, near Buffington Island in the Ohio River.
Many members of the McCook family, including wives and children, are buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Others are buried in Bend, Oregon and Miami, Florida.
