Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-24
Two worthy Sons of Virginia.

TWO Worthy Sons Of Virginia.
In republishing from Harper's Weekly the
| following warm and truthful tribute to ca"
Cooke, we cordially second the proposition o.
our contemporaries, that some suitable testimo
nial should be voted by the General Assembly
to Col Cooke, native Virginian, q veteran il
the service Of his country, in which he has
shown thorough efficiency and gallantry.
At the same time We respectfully but earn.
estly trust that the General Assembly will
tender some similar testimonial to Col. Robert
E. Lee, another distinguished son Of Virginia,
who vas the right-hand man Of General Scott
in Mexico, and who is universally regarded as
the Chevalier Bayard of the age:
Philip St. George Cooke, Colonel Second Dragons.
Colonel Philip St George Cooke Of whom
we present an accurate likeness, is among the
officers commanding in the expedition to Utah.
lie is one of the most meritorious soldiers in
the United States army, and his perils and snl:
ferings lately on the stormy route to Salt Lake
City, have excited widely extended interest and
attention.
lie was born in Berkeley county, Virginia,
in 1909; the youngest of many brothers who
have been eminent in the South and West
Among these, VIC may mention John r. Cooke,
gentleman OF much distinction at the Fir-
ginia bar; and Dr.. John Esten Cooke, former
II President of Pennsylvania University. Colo
mel Cooke, from early boyhood, longed to lead
the life of soldier, but was opposed by his
parents. At fourteen, attempting to fight q
duel with one of his companions, his parents
yielded to his proclivities, and he soon entered
West Point He graduated in 1927, at the age
of eighteen, and entered the army. Soon af-
terward, as lieutenant of infantry-though
scarcely more than boy-hc conducted,
under circumstances Of extraordinary hardship
and trial, body Of two hundred men some
six hundred miles up the Missouri; and also
took part in an expedition to Sante Fc, meeting
and overcoming band of hostile Indians. He
was afterward engaged in the Black Hawk
War;" and was at the battle Of Bad Axe.
As Major of Second Dragons he served in
California and in the Mexican var, and con-
Quoted the Mormon Brigade" across the con-
tinent to San Francisco. His reports OF the
route which he followed in these marches were
published by the War Department, and will be
found full of interest. Many believe that the
only practicable line for the Pacific railroad is
that laid down on the maps as Col Cooke S
route" In 1854 he was commandant of one of
the great departments Of New Mexico At this
time he fought the battle Of Cincguilas defeat
ing the Camanches and other savages, with
considerable bloodshed. From this distant post
he soon afterward passed to Kansas, which was
then conyused. He was deputed to carry into
effect the orders of Government; and this critl-
cal task was fulfilled with great prudence, firm
ness and discretion HIS coolneSS and decision
upon this trying occasion undoubtedly prevent
ed the occurrence of terrible scenes, and both
parties fully recognized the prorrietv Of his
course.
When the Utah expedition was determined
upon, Colonel Cooke was at once fixed upon to
lead a portion of the troops. To his dctach-
lnent was intrusted the safe conduct Of Gov.
Cumming and other civil dignitaries. OF the
wild and strange incidents Of the march of the
army to Utah We need otspeak. The journals
of the day have chronicled the details, and they
have been universally read. We doubt if the
country at large, however, has realized in any
adequate degree, the perils and hardships Of
the onward advance OF our brave troops, through
binding snow storms, over the J. TX and bare
wastes Of the great plains. Co.onel Cookes
horses and mules perished by the hundred for
want of fodder; the stores for the men were
necessarily abandoned; still, in spite of every
thing, they pushed on, and overcame all the
terrOrs of the storm and the desert
We have but little to add in relation to Col.
Cooke. His fortune has been to take part in
few of those decisive encounters upon con-
spieuous theatre of action which alone attract
strongly the public attention. He has borne
the "heat of the day. instead Of catching by
chance those "brsht rewards" which ever and
anon fall to the lot of holiday soldiers. For
thirty years he has been in harness, guarding
the frontier against willy and untirins foe;
and as he has performed faithfully his duty, he
has not missed his reward He is at this mo-
ment one OF the best known and most popular
officers in the army throughout all the great
Western tier OF States The citizens Of these
States are fully aware Of his services, and just
ly hold him IN high favor and esteem. He has
won this honorable distinction by never nod
ding at his post, but watching with slecpless
vigilance over the regions he has been posted
to defend Col. Cooke is thoroughly.traned
soldier-a man to be relied on; that IS the ori
gin of his popularity and distinction.