Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/250

 \'IRGIX1A BIOGRAPHY

Frinceton College, where he graduated in the centennial class of 1847. He studied law ai Fredericksburg, under Hon. John Tayloe l.omax, was admitted to the bar in 1849, and engaged in practice at Richmond. In March, 1870, he was elected judge of the seventh judicial circuit of Virginia, and was twice re-elected.

Cooke, Philip St. George, born near Lees- burg, X'irginia, June 13, 1809. He acquired his academical training at the academy of Martiu'^burg, Virginia, then became a cadet in the United States Military .Academy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1827, and was assigned to the Sixth In- fantry. For many years he was stationed at the frontier, and was adjutant of his regi- ment at the battle of Bad Axe river, Au- gust 2, 1832, in the Black Hawk war. He escorted a party of Santa Fe traders to the Arkansas river in 1843, and captured a Texan military expedition on June 30, of the same year. During the progress of the Mexican war he commanded a Missouri volunteer battalion in California from 1846 to 1847, and in 1848 a regiment in the City of Mexico, having been promoted to the rank of major, February 16, 1847, and brev- etted lieutenant-colonel, February 20, for his conduct in California. Subsequently he Vvas engaged in various Indian expeditions; commanding the cavalry in the action at Blue Water, September 3. 1855. He com- manded in Kansas during the troubles there in 1856-57, performing that delicate duty to the satisfaction of all concerned ; and was at the head of the cavalry in the Utah expedi- tion of 1857-58, becoming colonel of the Second Dragoons, June 14, 1858. He pre- pared a new system of cavalry tactics in 1859, this being adopted for the service in

Xo\ ember. 1861, and a revised edition issued in 1883. In June, 1861, Gen. Cooke publish- ed a letter in which he declared he owed allegiance to the general government rather than to his native state of Virginia. He was promtjted to the rank of brigadier-general, Xovemher 12, 1861, and commanded all the regular cavalry in the Army of the Potomac, during the Peninsular campaign, particu- larly in the siege of Yorktown. and the bat- tles of Yorktown, Gaines' Mills and Glen- dale. He sat on courts-martial in 1862-63, commanded the Baton Rouge district until 1864, and was general superintendent of the recruiting service until 1866. He was at the head of the department of the Platte in 1866- 67, head of the department of the Cumber- land in 1869-70, and head of the depart- ment of the Lakes from 1870 until 1873. He was placed on the retired list, October 29, 1873, having been in active service more than forty-five years. He published "Scenes and Adventures in the Army," Philadelphia, 1856; "The Conquest of New Mexico and California ; an Historical and Personal Nar- rative," 1878.

Triplett, George W., born in Franklin county, Kentucky. February 8, 1809, son of Hedgman Triplett, soldier of the revolu- tion. In 1827 he married Pamela Head, he being fifteen years old. and she fourteen. They moved in 1833 to Davis county, Ken- tucky. He was public surveyor fourteen years ; representative and senator in the Kentucky legislature: major in the Confed- erate army on the staff of Generals Helm, Hanson and \'nn Dorn, and afterwards chief quartermaster of Gen. lireckinridge's corps. \\ hen Gtn. lireckinridge went into the Confederate cabinet, Tri])lett was a member of the Confederate congress from