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Rh known as "Cockrell's brigade," until the close of the war east of the Mississippi river. His brigade was renowned throughout the Southwest for its ability to hold its place in the line of battle, and it won for its commander an enviable reputation as a gallant soldier and a discriminating officer. He was in French's division, Polk's or A. P. Stewart's corps. Army of the Mississippi, opposing the advance of Sherman in Georgia, and when Hood was turned back to invade Tennessee, Cockrell's brigade accompanied Hood's army. General Cockrell was severely wounded at the battle of Franklin while leading a desperate charge. He would not relinquish his place until he had received his third wound. He next reported to General Maury at Mobile, Alabama, where he held the left of the defenses at Fort Blakely until April 9, 1865, when, the Spanish fort having fallen, the Confederate works were captured by a general assault of General Canby with 16,000 men. At the close of the war he returned to his law practice in Johnson county, Missouri. He was elected to the United States senate as a Democrat in 1875, to succeed Carl Schurz, Independent Republican, whose term expired March 3, 1875; and he was reelected in 1881, 1887, 1893 and 1899, his last term expiring March 4, 1905. In the senate he served six years on the committee on Claims; from 1881 on the committee on Appropriations and as chairman for four years; and continuously from 1875 on the committee on Military Affairs. He was a member of the committee on Engrossed Bills for sixteen years, and chairman for twelve years; member of the committee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico for six years; member of the Library Committee four years; Executive Department twelve years; Civil Service and Retrenchment four years; chairman of the committee on Woman Suffrage six years; member of the committee on Public Lands four years; Mississippi River, six years, with a shorter service on several other committees.

He was always a Democrat, supporting the regular nominee of the party, and the platform adopted in convention, but not prominent in state or national politics. He never held any public civil office before being elected a senator in congress. He was a candidate for governor before the Missouri Democratic state convention of 1874, but he was defeated by Charles H. Hardin. The Missouri delegates to the Democratic convention of 1904 presented his name as an available presidential candidate. He secured the amendment to the bill providing for government aid to the proposed