Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-07-16
From the Illustrated I ews.
Gen. Samuel Cooper.

The World has seen but one Cesar ard one NapO
eon Tor is it probable that it will another OF ethel
for ten centuries come. Yet when armies are al
ready organiZ and provided with all the weapons anC
munitions of war, there will always be found Generals
to lead them with at least tolerable ability To origi
nate armies Cnt OF the mass OF population unused to
the stern discipline of the camp-to create the mum
tions of out of literally nobing-to form soldiers
out Of a population brave Indeed but undsciplined anC
impatient If Eastrant-this is task quite as difficult
to lead than 10 Glory after they have been once
organ Z9d. 1he mind that accomplish this is a
least the mind that conceived the battle
Pharsalia or that planned the overthrow d the Rus
SLAMS and Austrlans at AusterlltZ.
Garnet possessed this faculty in high degree, snG
does the ustliCus General, whose services it is the
purpose of this sketch olustrae. 1t proper to re-
mark that the task accomplished by Cannot was much
easier than that accomplished by Gen. Cooper. The
former had army Of 100000 regular troops which
had been Employed by the King, and which had al
afforded a nucleus around which the leves might
be formed Into an army, and many OF Frances most il
ustrOus soldiers came cut OF It's ranks The latter had
no advantage of the sort He was obliged to create
alarmy, artillery, small arms, horses, the means OIL
feeding the men, everything m tactfor were utter
~ destitute of everything, and we had neither money
to buy, to the proper markets, if had had
it. o the amazrmeD OF the whole world and to the
atnazenent oil no portion OF it so profoundly to the
Yankees, powerful army created was led to the
field and has been constantly victorious since
is OF the miracles of history, and the credit OF hay
ing wrought it is due more to Gen. Cooper than to all
other persons combined.
Gen. Cooper is native Of the Stale of New York
He was born in the year 1898 and in 1873 when only
fifteen years old, entered the Military Academy at West
Point. the period of study not 80 long at that
time as it is now, that he graduated in Isl B. and
received bis commission of second lieutenant of light
artillery by brevet, the tn of December of that
year. He became I'd lieutenant in 1917, and when, in
1871, the army was reorganz7d, he retained in
the rank he then held. He became st lieutenant dur
ing the same year, of the bird Artillery, and in 824
was transferred TO the Fourth. Ia 1928, he became
aid dc-camp to Cen Macomb, and continued to serve
in that capacity until 1886. Ia 1881 be was appoint.
ed captain by brevet for faithful service ten years in
one grade 10 1886, he became full captain. In
l847 he made brevet Major OF the staff assistant
adjutan general and in l848 brevet colonel of the
staff, for mertorous conduct particularly in the per-
Torrance of his duties in the prosecution of the Mex
lean In 1852 Genl Cooper, whose peculiar tai
ent had become widely known to the army and the
public, was appointed Adutant General of the United
States. In that office, be was brought directly and
continually into contact with the present President of
the Confederate States when Secretary Of War to the
United States. Doubtless President Davis soon dis
covered his extraordinary qualification for that Office if
ne was ignorant of them before. The consequences
were most beneficial to the country. General Cooper
whose political principles had long bsen well known
signed 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, appointed Adjutant- General pf the Con-
fedeFate States He found Herculear task before
him. An army to be created, furnished with every
thing and taught to fight. How ably be has accom-
plshed his task let the noble army now in the field
and the proud military attitude of the country testify
General Cooper is the compiler of work on tactics,
designed for the of the militia of the United States
1t is highly spoken of by those who acquainted with
the subject of which it treats. He is the highest in
rank OF all our generals.