The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-24

After serving in three armies in three
different countries, Maj. James w.
Cooper. known in history as the "Ar-
kansas Guerilla" has come to Savan-
nah to spend the remainder of his life
with his family. Mr.. Cooper is max
ing his home at No. 120 Thirty-second
street, west.
Though 60-odd years of age, Maj
Cooper is still very active. More than
six feet in hight, he walks with that
distinct military bearing which charac-
terizes the trained soldier. His eyes
are black and piercing and when he is
engaged in conversation the eyes scan
the face of his listener carefully.
The hair is gray, though still liber-
ally streaked with the black of the
younger days. The thin, firm lips are
almost entirely covered by a heavy
iron-gray mustache. In speaking Maj.
Cooper's words are few, but directly to
the point, and there is the sharpness
and quickness about them Characters
tic of one who has been trained in
giving orders to the point when mo-
ments meant lives.
Though his reputation as fighter is
a great one though he will go down
in history as "the Confederate who
never surrendered" yet there is not a
single characteristic of the boaster
about him, and in telling his story he
constantly referred the Morning News
reporter to the federal war reports,
preferring to have his enemies tell his
story.
When but a lad of IS years he be-
came fired by the heartless depreda-
tions of the Federals on the border
country, then Missouri Kansas and
Arkansas, and enlisted in the Confed-
crate service. His daring, his thor
ough knowledge of the country, and his
quickness of judgment made him in
valuable as a scout, and to this duty
he was detailed early in '63.
His First Command.
During the time he was acting as a
scout, Mai. Cooper, then a captain,
was attached to a command under Col.
Reynolds, consisting of two regiments
and one battalion. The command was
ordered, early in SO to cross the Ar
kansas river and attack a federal
force.
Col. Reynolds lost his head in cross
ing, became panic-stricken, and began
a retreat. Capt. Cooper at once as
sumed command, rallied the men, and
advanced. He attacked the federal
force, drove it back upon its base, and
then hurried up into the mountains.
While operating in the mountains
Cen Shelby passed through Missouri
in his retreat. The officers and men of
his command who had been left in the
valley joined him, leaving Maj. Cooper
and his comrades to their fates. Cooper
heard of it, came down from the noun
tains, recrossed the river, and attached
himself to Gen. Standewaite's troops,
the Cherokee Brigade.
Reinforced. he again crossed the river
and at Barren Forks attacked a fed
eral force and defeated it. Then began
a series Of operations that daZzled the
federals, owing to the rapidity with
which Mai. Cooper moved his men.
Crossing and recrossing the mountains
he attacked force after force. held up
wagoh-trains, heavily guarded, and
captured the provisions, and then, be-
fore a relief force could be sent against
him, disappeared again into the noun
tains.
In rapid succession he fought the bat
ties of Mulberry Creek, Cane Hill,
Whltely's Mill, Berrysville and a doz-
en- others of smaller proportions.
Shortly after the battle of Berrys-
vile, Mai. Cooper was joined by the
famous Capt. Dick" Yeager, one of
Quantrelrs men. Their slogan was
Take no prisoners and the way they
lived up to 1t has become history. An
instance of their method of work is
thus related by Maj. Cooper.
During the pursuit of a routed fed
eral force I came upon body of Guam
trell's men surrounding a Yank. All
were trying to get the finishing shot at
him, but owing to the fact that they
stood in a circle, none dared fire for
fear of hitting a friend.
with drawn revolver I rode izyo
their midst and with my sword knock
ed up several rifles At the same time
] ordered him taken TO the rear. "All
right, major" came the response; I'VE
won't shoot him.
They started toward the rear with
him as a prisoner. An instant later I