John E. Cosgrove

COSGROVE, JOHN E. (1844 ~ 1924). John E. Cosgrove, Confederate veteran, was born in Louisiana in 1844. Cosgrove's family moved to Fort Worth in 1845 and joined the Confederate States Army at the beginning of the war. Cosgrove served in Van Buren's runaway battery team, which was a cannon attached to a horse unit making it more mobile than standard mounted guns. Cosgrove broke his arm while tending the cannon early in the war. Van Buren's Galveston Battery was dissolved at some point in the war for reasons unknown and the soldiers from that unit were dispersed amongst other forces. Cosgrove joined Colonel E. Anderson's Regiment of General Bee's Brigade, Alabama Infantry. Bee's Brigade served at the Battle of Bull Run and several other engagements until the end of the war. Cosgrove served for three years in Bee's Brigade and moved back to Fort Worth at the end of the war.

After the war, Cosgrove worked as a hotel clerk in Fort Worth. He entered the Confederate Veterans Home in Austin on three separate occasions: Dec. 13, 1909, May 16, 1913 and Dec. 31 1914. Cosgrove suffered a continual disability, according to Confederate Home Roster files. Cosgrove died on April 15, 1924 in his room at the home and was later buried at the Texas State Cemetery.

Biographical information taken from Confederate Home Roster records and Confederate pension applications.