Cook, John

Born: August 16, 1847 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH -

Died: August 3, 1915 Residence at time of enlistment: Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH

Enlisted: (date unknown) as a Bugler into Battery-B, 4th U.S. Light Artillery -

Discharged: Unknown

Buried: Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, VA (Gravesite #17-18613)

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION: For action on September 17, 1862 at Antietam, MD. "Volunteered at the age of 15 years to act as a cannoneer, and as such volunteer served a gun under a terrific fire of the enemy. Also assisted a wounded Captain off Battlefield.

Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the Civil War as a Bugler in Battery B, 4th United States Regular Artillery. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Antietam, Maryland on September 17, 1862. His citation reads "Volunteered at the age of 15 years to act as a cannoneer, and as such volunteer served a gun under a terrific fire of the enemy". His battery had been positions west of the Hagerstown Pike, and was decimated from Confederate fire from the West Woods area. Without orders he led his wounded Captain away from the battery, then joined the remaining artillery men, who successfully repulsed three separate Rebels attempts to charge and capture the guns. During this time Union Brigadier General John Gibbon also assisted the depleted battery, loading and firing the guns like a common artilleryman in full general's uniform. John Cook's Medal was awarded to him on June 30, 1894. (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Wisconsin~MEDAL OF HONOR Recipients