Samuel Cooper

[Sheltowee]

Outside of CW enthusiasts, I reckon few have heard of Cooper- the highest ranking general of the CSA.

I know very little myself, but am intrigued.

Found a photo of his headstone- note the reference to USA and CSA. Also the simplicity of the stone.

I've never visited a CS general's gravesite. Are there others with reference to their US service?

Also, is there a recommended biography of this man?

 

[Pollaco]

There is a story about Cooper that I find interesting. He was a very poor Virginia farmer in 1870,so poor Gen. Lee took up a collection for him. $300.00 from ex-Confederate soldiers and $100.00 from Lee, himself.

 

[Sheltowee]

I understand one of his last actions in the US Army was to boot Twiggs out.

And apparently, he turned over the surviving CSA records at the end of the war. Fortunately for us.

An interesting figure.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Samuel Cooper | National Portrait Gallery

npg.si.edu

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Might be an interesting read. Has anyone read it?

 

[Pollaco]

I've not read it but it certainly sounds interesting. It could possibly contain some information about some of the other clerks and the goings on in Richmond. Much like John Jones' "Diary of a Rebel War Clerk".

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Have not read the subject work featured, but note that the length of the listed paperback version is 208 pages – a reasonable body of work size.

Am a little surprised to find no other works were dedicated to the highly capable Samuel Cooper – who served through the war as Adjutant-General and Inspector-General of the Confederate Army.

There are, however, brief sections on him in a variety of other publications, many of which are compendiums covering an assortment of Confederate commanders.

Perhaps the dearth of titles on Cooper, and the apparent lack of attention he gets from writers/commentators, is due to his service being related to the less glamorous functions 'behind-the-scenes' of Army command, rather than active combat command in the field.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Interestingly, Samuel Cooper served as U.S. Secretary of War ad interim (temporarily) in the period, March 3 to 6, 1857.