Philip St. George Cocke

Philip St. George Cocke (April 17, 1809 – December 26, 1861) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the first year of the American Civil War. He is best known for organizing the defense of Virginia along the Potomac River soon after the state's secession from the Union. He commanded troops in the Battle of Blackburn's Ford and the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) in July 1861 before becoming despondent and committing suicide. Early life and education Philip St. George Cocke was born at Bremo Bluff in Fluvanna County, Virginia in 1809 to John Hartwell Cocke (1780-1866) a local militia officer and who would become an officer in the United States Army during the War of 1812 and the former Anne Blaus Barraud. He had elder brothers John Hartwell Cocke Jr. (1804-1846) and James Hartwell Cocke (1797-1853) and younger brother Dr. Cary Charles Cocke (1814-1888), as well as several sisters. Cocke graduated from the University of Virginia in 1828 and then from the United States Military Academy in 1832 with the rank of brevet second lieutenant. He was soon assigned as second lieutenant to an artillery unit in Charleston, South Carolina during the nullification crisis of 1832–33. He became adjutant of the 2nd U.S. Artillery on July 13, 1833. On April 1, 1834, having completed the year of military service required of all USMA graduates at the time, Cocke resigned from the military and concentrated on operating various large plantations in Virginia and Mississippi as described below. He married Sallie Elizabeth Courtney Bowdoin on June 4, 1834. They would have many children as described below.