 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - John J. McCook akaberekerwa muCarrollton, Ohio, kumusoro wemhuri Daniel McCook. Akatumidzwa zita rababamunini vake, John James McCook. Akanyoresa paKenyon College, asi akasiya chikoro mushure mekupedza gore rake rekutanga kuti anyore sevanhu vari mu52nd Ohio Infantry musi waAugust 12, 1862, asi haana kuunganidzwa mubasa, pakutanga nekuda kwezera rake. Akaperekedza hurumende semubatsiri anozvipira. Musi waSeptember 12 wegore iroro, akagadzwa semutungamiri wekutanga mu6th Ohio Cavalry uye akapiwa kune vashandi veMajor General Thomas L. Crittenden mune izvo zvakazova XXI Corps muHondo yeCumberland. McCook akabatanidzwa mumakwikwi akawanda uye hondo muWestern Theater, kusanganisira Perryville, Stones River, Hondo yeTullahoma, Chattanooga, uye Chickamauga. 