George W. Cook of Grasshopper Falls (Valley Falls), Kansas, enlisted in Company I, 11th Kansas Cavalry (originally the 11th Kansas Infantry) on September 1, 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas in December 1862, and was mustered out of the regiment on September 26, 1865. Strangely, Cook appears to be wearing an infantry frock coat, but has a cavalry insignia on his hat. The most plausible explanation is that Cook kept his infantry coat from the regiment’s earlier dismounted service. He died between 1910 and 1913, most likely buried in Jefferson County, Kansas.

Carte-de-Visite by G. Wertz, Kansas City, Mo.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31700