The First Small Arms Fired in the Civil War

The First Small Arms Fired in the Civil War

Back in October 1937, There appeared an article in The Phi Gamma Delta, Volume 60, Number 1 (October 1937), pp. 27-28.

The First Small Arms Fired in the Civil War

Samuel Calvin Cook (Howard 1859) Commanded Confederate Squad

By William Alfred Rose (Alabama 1921, Yale 1924)

This article has been summarized here by Clause Sonnett 4. 

This document is a historical account from a 1937 fraternity magazine that details what may have been the first use of small arms in the Civil War, involving a Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brother.

The Historical Event

The article describes a skirmish that occurred on May 9, 1861, nearly a month after the famous bombardment of Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861). While Fort Sumter marked the beginning of Civil War hostilities with cannon fire, this incident involved the first exchange of rifle fire between opposing forces.

The skirmish took place on Pensacola Bay in Florida, where Confederate troops were training at a concentration camp. A squad from the Third Alabama Cavalry, led by Second Lieutenant Samuel Calvin Cook, was assigned to watch the coast for Union ships. On a foggy morning, they spotted several boats containing U.S. Marines who were taking soundings in the bay. When Cook's squad challenged the boats, the Marines responded with rifle fire, prompting Cook to deploy his men and return fire. The Marines, apparently overestimating the size of the Confederate force, retreated to their ship, which then sailed away. No casualties occurred on either side.

Samuel Calvin Cook's Biography

Cook was born November 6, 1837, on a plantation in Alabama's "Black Belt" region. His father Daniel had served in the War of 1812 before settling in Alabama in 1829. Cook was educated in private schools and attended Howard College, where he joined the Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and graduated as valedictorian in 1859 with a bachelor of arts degree.

During the Civil War, Cook served for the entire duration, spending three years under General Joe Wheeler as part of an elite unit called the "Elite Corps" - a select group trained by West Point graduates for dangerous missions.

After the war, Cook became a lawyer in Camden, Alabama, and was active in politics, helping to end Reconstruction-era "carpet-bag rule" in his county. He served on the county Democratic executive committee for 22 years and was elected to the state legislature. Cook also pursued agricultural interests, specializing in fruit cultivation and writing articles on the subject. He organized the State Farmers' Alliance in 1890. He married Mary Harrell of Mobile in 1861 and had 14 children, living until 1904.

The Fraternity Connection

The article emphasizes Cook's membership in the original Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Howard College, chartered in 1856. This chapter disbanded during the Civil War and was never revived, but its 26 members were notably accomplished, including a college president, professors, legislators, judges, clergymen, lawyers, physicians, and planters.

The document concludes with a personal note that Samuel Calvin Cook was the author's 2nd cousin, 5 times removed, adding a genealogical connection to this historical account.

Samuel Calvin Cook is my  2nd Cousin 5X Removed. 

______________________________

Original Article Extracted by the Wayback Machine from the Internet Archives. Article Courtesy of PHI GAMMA DELTA; http://www.phigam.org/ and Courtesy of William Alfred Rose (Alabama 1921, Yale 1924). This summuration complile by Caludw Sonnett 4.