Lee and His Generals-- Part 6: Lee Takes Command

Robert E. Lee's first job was as a military advisor to Jefferson Davis and was in charge of coastal defense along the Atlantic Ocean.  He went out in public and said that Fort Pulaski was so strong that it could never be captured.

 Lee essentially got whipped during the early part of the war in command in what became West Virginia.  

In 1862, Johnston was in charge of forces protecting Richmond.  Lee was primarily involved in building up that city's defenses.   So much defensive work he directed that Lee got the nickname "Old Spades.

Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines.  The top Confederate generals in terms of seniority were Samuel Cooper, Albert Sydney Johnston, Lee, Joe Johnston and Beauregard.

Lee took over command of the Army defending Richmond.  He found that he could most rely on Longstreet and the two Hills.  As for Confederate generals Magruder, Holmes and Huger not so much.

--Old Secesh

General Samuel Cooper, CSA

Some more information on him.

From Find-a-Grave site.

(1798-1876)  Graduated USMA in 1815 and assigned to various artillery units until 1837 when he was appointed chief clerk of the U.S, War Department.

Served in the Seminole and Mexican wars.  Appointed adjutant general in 1832.

Buried at Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia.

--Old Secesh

The Highest-Ranking Confederate Officer Is Generally Unknown

From the May 14, 2014, Washington Post "Alexandria lecture highlights the highest-ranking Confederate general" by Linda Wheeler.

Samuel Cooper is not a name known to most Civil War buffs, but he was actually the Confederacy's highest-ranking officer, even having seniority on Robert E. Lee.

There was a lecture given May 15th by Marion Dawson, his great-great granddaughter.

Cooper resided in Alexandria.  When the war began, he resigned as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army and volunteered his services to the newly-formed Confederacy.  He was named adjutant and inspector general and reported immediately to his old friend, Jefferson Davis.

Initially appointed with the rank of brigadier general, he was quickly promoted to full general, the first to hold that position in the Confederate Army, thereby outranking even Lee.

After Richmond fell, he took the records of the Confederacy and fled until captured in North Carolina, where he turned the records over.  These are the ones currently in the National Archives.

--Old Secesh