Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-10

Richmend hnn lat mOdd citsBen IN the
death At GensrAl JoMN r. Cook His value
to the coinmunity was that Of . modest.
manly. direct man, Who could always %
felied upon 10 do his part In every good
movement; whoNAs g honest - daylight
who loved hia people; who ives the friend
Of the poor. and who Wns n enemy to nons
ssse those who were enemies 70 truth ana
honesty.
his father was . distinguished United
States cavalry officer, and the SON was
reared Ia tbs forts on the western frontier.
Drum-beat. bugis-cali. ths trail. and the
var-whoop were familiar things TO him
when he was but . lad. But his education
was not neglected, and ut Harvard ne quail
fIed himself TO enter the professlon OF the
civil engineer. His inclInations. however.
led him back to the army. and. being APP
pointed 70 ! lieutenancy. be returned TO the
fas West, where In constant adventure, u
skirmishes and battles with the REDSKINS,
he spent The years until the breaking out
Of the late war. Then he resigned his COM
mission. Joined hic kindred and friends OF
the south, and went at once to the front.
lie always kept at the front. A plain,
quiet. unobtrusive. uapfetentious man
seeking no acclaim. never Wanting self,
inconsiderate of bis own interests, but
sticklor for the rights Of his command, no
was always to be found when needed, was
never lseeard, and was eyerfercein ighs.
whether standing taking the ensmy's fire
ov leading charging column he was the
same dauntless spirit.
His greatest fame was made In command
of North Carolina troops These dearly
loved their young general, as brave men
always love kindred spirits.
General CooKE was without fear. de mad
faced death thousand times aud never
f,inched but it was not alone in the hot
fame of battle that he showed his bravery.
He had great moral courage. he was an
upright, downright. albright man" de
had OPINIONS and he candidly expressed
them It was not his custom to adopt the
views Of others; or to abandon position
because others disapproved; but ne was
not contentious or obstinate.
His civil life was as spotless as his mill
tary career and was scarcely less heroic.
Thrown upon his own resources at the
close of the war, no realized that he must
begin anew and almost at the foot OF
the ladder. His struggle was long and
hard. but fate could not but smile
upon such a persistent spirit, and many
wears ago be became well established here
Ms a merchant. He always had time TO
give TO public-spirited movements, and, as
the community recognized in him an I'M
selfish leader. his services were in much
demand.
Through an illness of over four months
he was frm and patient, calm and
resigned. He had the Christians hope, and
Death had no terrors for him; but, tender
husband and copsiderate father that he
was. he could not think of the family to DO
left behind without having his heart wrung.
Richmond and Virginia, and North Caro-
lima no less, will mourn General CoozE. He
was an example of our best manhood. In
him was strength without sternness and
merit welded to modesty. He was Chris
tian strong in faith and valuable to his fell
lows in example, and these cemeteries
about us in which are $4,000 Confederate
dead, hold the dust of no truer man.
"Life's duty done, as sinks tho clay,
Light from its load tho spirit fies;
While Heaven and earth combine TO say
How biest the righteous when he dies"