Cook's Rangers: Civil War Raids in Northeastern Kentucky

In this episode, historian James Prichard joins us to uncover the story of Cook’s Rangers, a Confederate guerrilla group active in northeastern Kentucky during the Civil War. Operating in the rugged terrain of the region, these irregular fighters launched a series of raids that struck fear into Unionist communities and disrupted military operations across the area.

We examine the background of the group's leader, the motivations of its members, and the violent legacy they left behind. Prichard provides historical insight into how Cook’s Rangers fit into the broader guerrilla warfare that plagued Kentucky—a border state torn between North and South.

Join us as we explore the impact of these raids on civilians, their role in local resistance, and how Kentucky’s divided loyalties played out in one of the war’s most turbulent corners.