DOB:  May 5, 1831 DOD:  July 15, 1905 Age at Enlistment: 17 Date of Enlistment:  May 9, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Franklin, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Private Rank at Discharge:  Private Casualty:  Wounded in the right shoulder in the Battle of Franklin Comments:  James M. Cook was born in a house off of Wilson Pike in what is now Brentwood, TN next door to the historic Ravenswood Mansion near Modern Day Ravenwood High School.  He younger brother, Henry, also served in the Williamson Grays.  His brother attended Boiling Springs Academy and it is assumed James was educated there as well.  The 1850 and 1860 Censuses both show James working as a Carpenter with his father.  By 1860, James’ father had moved the family to downtown Franklin (probably because Carpentry would be in more demand in a town instead of the country) and James was living there when he enlisted in the Williamson Grays.  James shows as present on every roster on his service record.  He was wounded in the right shoulder at the Battle of Franklin but escaped south with the Army after the Battle of Nashville.  He was 1 of 7 Williamson Grays present at the Surrender of Johnston’s Army at Greensboro, NC on April 26, 1865.  James remained a Bachelor all his life.  His family moved back to their farm on Wilson Pike following the Civil War.  In his later years he applied for and was granted admission to the Old Soldier’s Home near the Hermitage where he passed away in 1905.  In 1902, he posed for a photo with four other Williamson Grays who made it through the entire war.  John Bullock died shortly after the photo was taken and James was one of his Pall Bearers. 

Boiling Springs Academy off of Moores Lane in Brentwood where Cook attended school.

Cook was a member of the John L. McEwen Bivouac of the United Confederate Veterans in Franklin.  His application is here.

Group shot of some of the Williamson Grays who served the entire war and surrendered in 1865.  John is standing on the left (From the Confederate Veteran Magazine).  Photo was taken in 1902.