The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-07-28
GEN. SAMUEL COOPER.

Adiutdnt General of the Confederate States.
The world has seen but one Caesar and one Ma,
poleOn, nor is it probable that it will another
of either for ten centuries to come Yet when
armies are already organized and provided with
all the weapons and munitions of war, there will
always be found Generals to lead them with at
least tolerable ability. To originate armies out of
the mass of population unused to the stern dis
cipline of the camp-to create the munitions of
war out OF literally nothing-to form soldiers out
of population brave indeed but undisciplined and
impatient of restraint-this is task quite as diff
cult as to lead them to victory after they have been
once organized. The mind that can accomplish
this is at least as the mind that conceived
the battle of Pharsaia, sor that planned the
throw of the Russians and Austrains at Auster-
litz.
Carnot possessed this faculty in high degree,
and so does the illusrious General, whose services
it is the purpose of this sketch to illustrate 1t is
proper to remark that the task accomplished by
Garnet was much easier than that accomplished by
Gen. Cooper. The former had an army of so 600
regular troops which had been employed by the
King, and which had all come oyer to the Repub-
lie, to begin with. This body afforded nucleus
around which the new levies might be formed into
an army, and many of Frances most iustrious
soldiers came out of its ranks. The latter had no
advantage of the sert. He was obliged to create
OF feeding the men, everything, and we had nei-
ther money to buy, nor access to the proper
kets, 1t we had had it. To the amazement of the
whole world, and to the amazement of no portion
OF 1t so profoundly as to the Yankees, powerful
army 'cds created, was led to the field, and has
been constantly victorious ever since It is one of
the miracles of history, and the credit of having
wrought it is due more to Gen. Cooper than to ali
other persons combined.
Gen. Cooperis native of the State of New York.
He was born in the year 1913, and in 1913, when
only fifteen years old, entered the Military Acade-
any at West Point. The period of study was not so
long at that time it is now, so that he graduated
In 1918, and received his commission of second
lieutenant of light artillery, by brevet on the 18th
OF December of that year. He became I'd lieuteu-
ant IN 1917, and when, in 1921, the army was re-or
ganized, he was retained in the rank he then held
lie became first lieutenant during the same wear
Of the Third Artillery, and in 1924 was transfer
red to the Fourth. In 1928, he became aid-de
camp to Gen. Macomb, and continued to serve in
that capacity until 1886. In 1881. he was an
pointed captain by breyet, or faithful service ten
years In one grade In 1886, he became a full
captain, In le47, he was made hrevet Major of
the stan assistant adJutant general, and, in 1913,
brevet colonel of the staff for meritorious CON
duct, particularly in the performance of his duties
in the prosecution of the Mexican. war. In 1852
.Gen1 Cooper, whose peculiar talent had become
widely known to the army and the public was
appointed Adjutant General of the United States
La that Office, he was brought directly and contin
ually into contact with the President of the Con
federate States, when Secretary of War to the
United States. Doubtless President Davis soon
discovered his extraordinary qualification for that
Office, if he was ignorant of them before The
consequences were most beneficial to the country
General Cooper whose political principles had long
been we'll known, resigned his Office three DAYS
after the Inauguration Of Lincoln 9th March.
1861 He Immediately offered his services to
President Davis, and, on the 10th of March, was
appointed tAdjutant- General of the Confederate
States. He founda Herculean task before him,
An army was to be created, furnished with every
thing, and taught to fight How ably he has &C
complished his task let the noble army now in the
field and the proud military attitude of the country
testify.
General Cooper ID fhe compiler of work on
tactics, designed for the use of the militia of the
United States. Its highly spoken of by those
who are acquainted with the. subject of which it
treats He is the highest in rank of all our gene
rails.