Louis Cook Discovery Cart

Lieutenant Colonel Louis Cook (Akiatonharónkwen), also commonly known as Joseph Louis Cook, was the highest-ranking Native American officer in the Continental forces during the Revolutionary War. Cook was born to an African American father and Abenaki mother, and he fought with the French in the Seven Years' War. During the American Revolution, Cook broke away from his Mohawk brethren and sided with the Revolutionary cause.

Take a closer look at these reproduction objects featured in a digital discovery cart about Cook as well as at an in-person discovery cart periodically featured at the Museum. 

Brass Gorget

A brass gorget engraved with a turtle that's possibly symbolic of the Oneida's Turtle Clan.

Plus, take a closer look at a British gorget and a French gorget, both of which are in the Museum's collection.

Tomahawk

A pipe tomahawk often given as gifts.

Woven Sash

A woven sash with glass beads of the sort commonly used by Native Americans in this period.

Wool Coat

A wool coat like Cook would have worn typical of a Continental Army officer.

Learn more about Louis Cook, as well as the Continental Army's attack of Quebec City on Dec. 31, 1775, in our Virtual Museum Tour.

This digital discovery cart was originally released online as part of the Museum's virtual Thanksgiving Weekend event in November 2020, featuring make-at-home crafts and a Living History at Home cooking demonstration featuring Joseph Plumb Martin's recipe for rice and vinegar.