[1] At his father's urging, Cooke studied and practiced law briefly in Richmond but abandoned that in 1849 when continuing financial problems prevented him from enrolling at the University of Virginia.

[2] After he started writing, he almost immediately became a successful novelist and prolific short story writer, eventually authoring 31 books and almost 200 published articles and poems.

Cooke joined the Richmond Howitzers, a militia artillery unit, in the 1850s, earning the rank of sergeant.

Cooke participated in the Peninsula Campaign and Stuart's subsequent ride around the Union army of George B. McClellan, later writing a detailed description of the action.

Soon after the start of the Stuart's ride around the Union Army of the Potomac, Cooke was nearly shot or captured during the Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1863).

The other three Confederates quickly fled toward their main body but Cooke was intent on finishing his breakfast and having his horse shoed.

He barely escaped when a second group of Union riders became suspicious of the nature of activity at the farm and rode up to check.

[10] During the war, Cooke served Stuart as an aide, ordnance officer, and assistant adjutant general, earning the rank of captain.

On October 27, 1863, Stuart made Cooke an adjutant in order to put his writing talent to work in catching up on his paperwork.

[11] In 1867, Cooke married Mary Frances Page and settled down at the former home of Daniel Morgan, Saratoga,[16] near Boyce, Virginia, to become a marginally prosperous farmer and gardener as well as an author.

The $1,000 grant and award competition, open to book-length works, is judged on "effectiveness of research, accuracy of statement, and excellence of style.

"[20] The Cooke Fiction Award is one of three literary prizes given annually by the Military Order of the Stars and Bars.