The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-17
seuTH,s RANKING GENERAL.

From the Nashville American.
If the question, "Who was the rank
ing general of the armies Of the Con-
federate states?" were asked Of thou
sand people, the probable answer of 900
would be Robert f. Lee" And yet,
such is not the case. The highest rank
ing officer in the service of the Confed-
crate states was Samuel Cooper. And,
strange to say, he is probably the least
known of all the officials in the south
ern state, his rank and efficiency con-
sldered General Samuel Cooper was
born in the state of New York, June
L, 1898. At the age of 10 he entered the
United States Military academy at West
Point graduating in 1917, the period of
study not being so long then as now
four years. He obtained the full rank
OF lieutenant at the age of II. He was
aid-de-camp TO General Macomb, the gem
e1al-in-ehief of the army, iS2S-1Ss6 He
was assistant adjutant general at army
headquarters during the Florida war.
For meritorious conduct relating to the
Mexican war he was breveted colonel on
the staff, and In 1852 became the adj
jutant general of the United States army.
He held this rank until 1861. except while
serving temporarily as secretary of war.
In March 1861, he resigned his commission
and went at once to Montgomery. Ala.
reporting to President Davis on March
Is and the next day was appointed by
President Davis adjutant general of the
Confederate states, standing at the head
of the list of Confederate generals That
master mind for the skilled organization
of an army arrived in Montgomery at
the very moment OF tine demand, and he
was one of the best prepared men in
the country for that particular work.
Association. between General Cooper and
Mr.. Davis while the latter was secretary
of war doubtless caused them to know
each other fully. General Cooper, though
a northern man, by birth. agreed with
the southern statesmen in their views of
the rights of the several states, and
being a man of firm conviction and reso-
Lutte purpose resigned from the United
States army and cast his fortunes with
the young Confederacy. Throughout that
strenuous period there was not even the
slightest manifestation of lukewarmness
in his service, and even after the close
of the war, he still shared the sufferings
and privations of those with whom he
had been so closely and lovingly asso-
ciated and chose for his home a beautiful
spot near Alexandria, Va, where he re-
sided until his death which occurred in
December, 1876.
President Davis states that General
Cooper was the first United States officer
to resign and enlist for the south. The
next to enlist were Albert Sidney John
ston and Robert f. Lee. General Cooper
was invited by President Davis to ac-
cept the position of adjutant general,
which he did, without question as to
relation, rank or anything else. He was
given the highest grade then authorized
by law, that OF brigader general, but
In the Messages and Papers of the
Confederacy." recently complied by the
Hon. James d. Richardson. late represent
tative from the state of Tennessee, 1t Is
recorded that on August 81. 1861, ne was
promoted to the rank of general his COM
mission being dated May Is, 1861, and that
he was. therefore, the ranking general of
the armies of the Confederate States.