The Battle of Little Bighorn, fought on June 25, 1876, and often referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand,” has become a fixture of American folklore. Yet, the battle also had notable Canadian connections.
One of those connections was William Winer Cooke, born on May 29, 1846, to Alexander Hardy and Angeline Augusta Cooke in Mount Pleasant, near Hamilton, Brant County, Ontario. After attending school in Brantford and Hamilton, Cooke moved to Buffalo, New York, at age 14 to continue his education.
In 1863, at the height of the American Civil War, the 22-year-old Cooke enlisted in the 24th New York Volunteer Cavalry at Niagara Falls. He began as a recruiting officer but soon saw front-line action with Ambrose Burnside’s IX Corps at the Battle of Petersburg, where he was wounded. Following his recovery, Cooke served in commissary duty, receiving a promotion to 1st Lieutenant on December 14, 1864, and returning to active duty in March 1865. He continued to rise through the ranks, becoming Lieutenant Colonel and seeing action at the Battle of Sayler’s Creek.
After the Civil War ended in April 1865, Cooke joined the 1st New York Provisional Cavalry. Seeking a Regular Army commission, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment on July 28, 1866. A year later, while stationed at Fort Harker, Kansas, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on July 31, 1867. Cooke participated in the 1868 Washita Campaign, leading Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s sharpshooter detachment.
On January 1, 1871, Cooke became Custer’s regimental adjutant, a post he would hold until his death. Close friends with Custer’s younger brother, Thomas, Cooke became part of the inner circle of the “Custer Clan,” the network of close friends and relatives surrounding George Custer.
Cooke continued to see action with the 7th Cavalry, including the 1873 Yellowstone Expedition and the 1874 Black Hills Expedition. Known for his distinctive long side whiskers, he was widely regarded as an excellent marksman and one of the fastest runners in the regiment.
On June 25, 1876, Cooke accompanied Custer and the regimental staff to Little Bighorn, Montana, where Custer led 647 men against a combined force of Lakota, Sioux, and Cheyenne warriors. Cooke’s final act on the battlefield was sending a message to Major Frederick Benteen, urging reinforcements—a message that would become the last received from the Custer command.
In the ensuing battle, over 200 men were killed, including Custer himself. Cooke’s body was found close to Custer’s, and he would be buried three times before finally resting in Hamilton Cemetery in August 1877, at the request of his family.
Cooke is believed to be one of several Canadians killed at Little Bighorn, with estimates ranging from 10 to 17. Others included:
- Sgt. John Vickory, Toronto
- Richard D. Saunders, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
- Darwin L. Symms, Montreal
- Edmond D. Tessier, Montreal
- Andrew Snow, Sorel, Quebec
Also notable was Mark Kellog, a war correspondent born in Brighton, Ontario, who, due to his U.S. parentage, was considered an American citizen.
These Canadians’ presence at Little Bighorn highlights the transnational nature of military service in the 19th century, and their stories remain an enduring part of the battle’s legacy.
johnmilner.ca 