Thomas Cook was born in 1828. He married Jane Grizzle and had seven children, all but one born in Georgia.
He first enlisted in Atlanta, GA with the 35th Georgia Infantry, Co. C, CSA and was involved in the battles of Seven Pines (Fir Oaks), Chickahominy (Mechanicsville), Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania. He was reported as deserting at Petersburg on 26 August 1864. He signed the oath of allegiance to the USA on 21 October 1864 and was sent to prison at Chattanooga, TN. He then enlisted with the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV, in December.
In 1872, he took his wife and five children and moved to northern Arkansas in a covered wagon. They settled on a farm in Marion County in Yellville.
He died between 1876 and 1880.
Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit
can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.