(1831-1903) Union major general of volunteers, one of the ‘Fighting McCooks’, whose career was damaged because of his role in the Union rout at Chickamauga. Good content A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., Denver, Dec. 11, 1894, on ‘Headquarters Dept. of the Colorado’ letterhead, to his cousin, Prof. John J. McCook. McCook refelcts on his recent promotion to major general in the regular army in a self-satisfied tone, in part: ‘I thank you for letter [sic] and hearty congratulations for my promotion. I have had restored to me the rank I won upon the field of battle thirty two years ago – This now in the regular army, and the new grade will round out my military career with honor & may comfort me in the future; when old age overtakes me. When you get your enemies out of the way, the path seems smoother. The one hundred telegrams and the three hundred and fifty letters, together with what I see in the Press, speaks to me forcibly, that the appointment has met with the approbation of my contemporaries, making the honor doubly satisfactory to me and my family…’ He closes by sharing his plans to travel abroad after his upcoming retirement, and signs at the conclusion in black ink, adding his rank ‘Major General U. S. Army’. Shows horizontal mailing folds with approx. 1 in. splits thereto, with a pencil biographical inscription at the top of the first page, otherwise in very good to fine condition overall. Sold with the original transmittal envelope.