The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-08-29

Some particulars, in the nature of a
biographical notice, of the rebel gen.
erals. will be of interest just now.
Gen. Samuel Cooper rs the senior Off
Ger. This gentleman was born in Del
aware county in this States and was
sent to the Military Academy, where
he graduated in 1917. He was soon
placed on staff duty, generally at
Washington was military secretary,
believe, of Mr.. Poinsett, at all events
of the Secretary of War; chief clerk
Of that department, then on aid to Gen.
McComb, Generalin-chisf of the army,
and subsequently an assistant adjutant..
general. In this bureau, by personal
and political influence, he went through
the various grades till, an the death OF
Gen. Roger Jones, he became adjutant-
general, which place he resigned last
Spring. Col. Cooper married Miss
Mason, sister of the ex-senator from
Virginia. His sou-in-law, Frank
Wheaton, now colonel of the I'd Rhode
Island Regiment, was appointed in the
LIST cavalry where he remained till
transferred as above. Gen. Cooper
never saw battle, and except for a
few months, As years since, never had
the actual command of man, much
less an army. General Johnston and
Lee had a regular military education,
but most of the latter's service in our
army was in staff position, and he
never has had an important command.
He is Virginian by birth, and an ac-
complished man. He married Miss
Gusts, the only child of the late Geo.
w. p. Gusts. She inherited from her
father.Arlington, opposite Washington,
and also other extensive plantations on
the Rappahanock River. Mrs. Lee is
in favor of the Union, and was few
weeks since residing, almost unknown,
in Washington. Gen. Johnston held a
staff appointment as paymaster for
some time, and was one OF the army
for several years. His battle record,
excepting in a subordinate capacity, is
yet to be made. He and Gen. Lee
were always deemed efficient and intel
igent officers, but never ranked above
many of their associates. Gen. Beau
regard graduated second in his class,
and became brevet second lieutenant
of engineers, rising to a capacity which
he held when he resigned. Passina,
we remark that Rufus King of Wis
consin, a native of this city, and Geo.
w. Merrill of Cooperstown, both re-
ported appointed BrigadierGeneral
in our service, each graduated first at
che Point. Gen. B. was never consid-
cred superior or the equal even of Major
Barnard, Capts. Benham, Fraser, and
other officers of the engineer corps.
His experience was in Mexico as an
engineer officer on generals staff:
The duties are simply to direct and
construct Notifications, batteries, &C.,
and have no more connection with the
disposition or handling of the troops in
the field than belongs to the duties of
medical staff or the chaplin. At Bull
Run he had an opportunity to show his
engineering ability in erecting masked
batteries, and other works, and then
fought the battle. At 81 o'clock he
was defeated by our forces, and would
have fallen back on Manassas or Rich
Mond but for the appearance of Gen.
Johnston with 1000 fresh troops. This
was Gen. BIS first battle. Its results,
while he alone was responsible, do not
warrant the high encomiums passed on
him.-M Y. Tribune.