Cook and Brother of New Orleans - A Confederate Rifle Factory 

The Cook brothers are considered two of the heroes of the Confederacy. Even though they were both from England, they adopted the Confederate cause after they moved to New Orleans in the 1850's. Ferdinand married a New Orleans woman, Mary Jane Wilcox, described as "one of the fairest belles of the City", in 1852. He moved to New Orleans after the marriage and was later followed by his brother Francis some time in 1855. Athey were representatives of Novelty Iron works of New York City, where they worked from about 1850 until the outbreak of the war. The company manufactured mostly cotton and sugar machinery, so locating in New Orleans was a logical move. Both brothers learned engineering and metalworking at Novelty, then regarded as one of the finest machinery companies in the nation. There was also another brother, Frederick, who ended up in New Orleans, and Francis and Frederic established the Belleville Iron Works in Algiers, outside New Orleans. They made mostly agricultural equipment, but also spent some time making prototype rifles in hopes of selling them to the US Army. They even wrote to then US Secretary of War Jefferson Davis in 1856 about establishing an arms factory in the South since none then existed. Of course, that suited the Union fine, so nothing ever came of it. When the Civil War began, Ferdinand resigned his position with novelty and it appears Frederick made his way back to New York since he was a Union sympathizer. The remaining two brothers, Ferdinand and Francis, set to work immediately converting the Belleville company to producing rifles. The company was renamed Cook and Brother and a new factory, initially the Nashua Iron Works, was established in New Orleans. Although I don't know for sure, I assume the Belleville factory was sold to help finance the new rifle company/ The removal of the rifle company to Athens had some of the same heroics as the Russians removing their factories in the face of the advancing Nazis. I could write a book on that alone, and this is already getting close enoough to a book. The brothers had no intention of going through that turmoil again. They reserved at least 250 of their rifles for a local defense company to defend the plant and the Athens area when it was clear that the Union forces would make their way through Georgia. They even made a few small artillery pieces. The plant defense force did fight the Union forces as part of a larger local militia at Griswoldville, GA and Hardeeville SC, and several factory workers were killed in the battles. As Ian said, Ferdinand gave his life for the Confederacy on December 11, 1864, stuck down by a Union sniper during the Hardeeville battles. After the War ended, Francis managed to get a Federal pardon after spending some time in Union custody because he was a Confederate officer. Because he was a British subject, he managed to escape imprisonment as a traitor. Even though he managed to stave off several years of attempts by US Marshals to seize the factory, the local sheriff auctioned it off in 1868 to pay of the company's substantial debts that were never made good due to the collapse of the Confederacy. The buildings and grounds were purchased by the Athens Manufacturing Company and used as a cotton mill. To the best of my knowledge, the factory burned to the ground sometime in the 1890's. Ferdinand gave his life and Francis gave his fortune, both for the Lost Cause. The only reason I know some of these details is the brothers are distant relatives. As far as I can tell from my genealogy program, they would be cousins six times removed. I found out some of the information while researching that line of the family. As you might imagine, I'd love to have one of the Cook and Brother rifles. Unfortunately, I don't have a spare $30,0000 readily at hand.

I love the story behind all of these 'forgotten weapons.' It's like getting a free history lesson. Except, professor Ian forgot to take roll-call. lol

I loved the 'ice cream for rifle" story. Reminded me of a story my dad told me. When he was a kid, the boy next door liked my dad's plastic automatic rifle, which lit up and made noises (pretty slick for the 60's) and traded his dad's war bring-back Arisaka for it one day. My dad loved it, but needless to say, the trade didn't last long once their fathers both got home.

Due to inflation, I'm betting that carbine is worth at least a half-dozen ice cream cones! Ian should report the final price in quantity of ice cream cones when it sells.

Not sure if it was used in the war, but my great, great grandfather apparently had a flintlock that almost certainly predated the Civil War. Around the 1920s one of his sons unfortunately got his hands on (I don't know how) an unexploded, modern artillery shell. He decided to break it open and use the powder in the flintlock, and the flintlock was no more. He lived. I believe alcohol was involved.

I haven't had a lot of interest in the American Civil War (I'm British) for over 50 years now but this sort of wonderful presentation makes me want to revisit the things that I enjoyed as a 10 year old. :)

The Clyde Armory here in Athens has actually built a sort of replica building of the Cook & Brother manufacturing plant. And at the Oconee River Greenway there's still a Cook & Brother square. Pretty neat how the legacy lives on here and what all.

Too bad it's only 41. If it had been 42, it would have been the answer to everything.

Also the workers in the Athens factory became part of the Georgia militia when Sherman invaded and actually fought at the battle of griswoldville where the griswoldville revolver was made near macon GA

I am always amazed by the stories these pieces of history can tell, and the light they can shed on otherwise unknown tales perhaps lost and waiting for to be found again!

As always, excellent research. Great job again Ian!

Its nice to see a piece of history from my home state. Thanks for the video

That's awesome. Gotta love the back story.

Keep up the great videos sir!

Thank you for the history lesson!

Goose Pond was actually part of the larger Battle of Boykin Mill. It was the last battle on SC soil and saw the last union officer killed in action until the war ended. The 54th Massachusetts was the tip of the spear and took heavy casualties assaulting an old abandoned Revolutionary War fort that the Confederate repaired and repurposed.

Ian, Thank you for your very informative videos, you have been a very bust boy of late. Keep up the good work.

very cool rifles. thanks for the video

Great vid!!

Love the ice cream story. Reminds me of a tale my grandpa likes to bring up (I'm not sure how true it is) about how my great-grandpa apparently traded his war bring-back Luger for a some .22 he wanted.

Excellent video, but I would like to make a correction. The small flag stamped on the two rifles is not the “stars and bars”. The 1861 Louisiana confederate flag is stamped on the rifle made in New Orleans, and the Georgia state flag is stamped on the rifle made in Athens. I only mention this because I know you try to be historically accurate.

Thanks

Gun Jesus takes no sides with history.

Nice video!

My grandfather played with a spencer carbine one of his relatives captured from a yankee and brought home. :)

It is one of my dreams to have an Athens Ga stamped cooks brothers rifle. I went to uga and they're too cool

That was interesting. Thanks.

Very nice

Great rifles, great background, if only that carbine could talk! All the way from Gettysburg to being traded for an ice cream cone then for mega bucks at an auction.

Wow..what a piece of history! Traded for an ice cream cone! Wow!

Interesting that climber's 'carabineers' and 'carbines' come from the same origin, the clip that attaches the sling to the ring on the side of the rifle.

I noticed your mention that the New Orleans factory was at Common and Canal streets. These streets today are almost parallel (Common is one block south west of Canal), but set at an angle so that it may be that in 1860 they met very near the Mississippi river bank - what natives today would call the "foot of Canal Street." It seems likely that the building site was where Harrah's casino is today. I can't find evidence of an actual intersection in any of the old maps I was able to find on line.

What a history in that carbine...

So nice...great Confederate maker

That carbine would a great brush gun.

Common & Canal? Neat trick, given they run more or less parallel a block apart. (Unless Common didn't stop at Tchoupitoulas back then, which would put the factory somewhere inside Harrah's casino. I'll have to check some vintage maps later...)

Sweet

I have a Replica of the full length rifle, awesome shooter!

FYI per General Grant auto biography when Vicksburg Miss. surrendered the Southern Troops came out and stacked arms in surrender. the quality and newness of the arms were such that Grant had his Troops who were issued with flintlock conversions that "were as dangerous to the shooter as to the receiver" were to approach in proper order and lay down his weapon and pick up the surrendered CSA weapon. this not only improved the troopers weapon but simplified ordnance needs. Something to think about, no?

Interesting story. "I'd buy that for an icecream!"

What kind of iron did they use to make the barrel ? Doesn't twist iron weaken the barrel

the architecture of the buttstock is interesting. it's very graceful, like a fowler, but i wonder how strong the wrist is? it's usually the wrist that goes first.

Man, I wish I could get my hands on that carbine model: a great size for me (6" but really lean) and it's a great-looking little thing.

Hello Ian, would like to know if the "new Policy" will prevent future such videos from these auctioneers? will all of this be moved to full30 perhaps? Praying for the best for you!

Wishing that Carbine could talk.

Question: all Cook & Brother replicas are blued. Were originals blued or in white metal finish.??

Question, does anyone know what the pins are made out of that retain the steel strap under the handguard of a type 38 arisaka? To be more specific the top handguard closest to the rear sight block. brass or steel?

Exchanged for an ice cream cone. It were simpler times back then.

The predominant *standardized* rifle the Confederacy would employ. I love how the South would largely go into war with what they brought from home, battlefield scavenges, and what little the Confederate government could provide.

Not sure which are more numerous, underproduced Confederate rifles or Union cavalry trials carbines

One of the brothers in cook and brother was not present when the company was named

I admit to that suspicion with the serial number.

I'd trade a truckload of ice cream for a FAL!

Manufacturing always a tricky go in the South; never had the resources like the North-

"hey kid, give me that gun- I'll get you ice cream" shonky deal

Where is this Goose Pond located in SC?

I went and saw the place where the original factory was in New Orleans, now it's just a bunch of apartment buildings, there's no marker or anything, odd saying as even the small factory that was in Georgia had a marker.

That ice cream cone better have tasted as if it was worth $40k.

$40,000 ice cream cone...must've been good.

Growing up the son of a Civil War historian and having been born in Athens, GA the carbine is especially attractive. Sadly far out of my price range.

I don't think Cook and his brother made 39-inch rifle muskets.

Is there a southern gun manufacturer that *didn't* end up broke?

man, thats gonna be a pricey lil gun isnt it?

That little cavalry carbine is sexy af

I spent a distressing amount of time wondering who Mr. Brother was.

Hey, Ian! Are these new RU-vid policies about firearm content going to affect your channel?

Benjamin Butler denied an arms factory :)

That better have been one hell of an ice-cream cone. Three scoops, MINIMUM.

“ once It got to Athens I guess it started waving”😂👌🏽

👍

One of Life’s Great Bargains 😮 I Wish I Could’ve Traded a Few Icecream Cone’s Back in the Day 😐😐😐 Just Imagine What a Keg Of Bathtub Gin Back In the Roaring 20’s Would Of Got You 😀😀

Whoa enjoyable matter. Maybe You Have got word of tyranny unmasked?

I thought they made shotguns, I guess I was mistaken.

in heaven there is a gun Jesus channel

Talk about a sweet deal lol

What's the point in putting serial numbers on screws🤷 And.....were cavalry rifles usually equipped with something to keep the rod from being lost. Or did a lot of cavalry lose their rods and just used anything they could find that would work. Who cares anyway. I just was waiting the whole time for you to explain the whatever it was on the end of that cavalry rifle. Loading and riding especially with powder and what not definitely was harder than texting and driving. Just saying, not studying me.

Ahh. The Brits teaming up with the Confederates. We still kicked both their asses.

Did they made rifle barrels like damascus shotgun barrels? it has some kind of spiral pattern. ok,sorry, i need to write after watching the whole video.

Praised be Gun Jesus

Can you imagine the outrage of seeing kids running around, playing with empty Arisakas or Mausers? Makes me feel like we fought for the wrong side sometimes.

I hope your channel survives this attack on free speech

At least wore gloves for professional inspection, to preserve.