Was one of the most distinguished men of The County And his Death is Regretted by All - Was brave and Very Modest

Captain J. Harvey Cooper "The Bravest Man in The Army of The Potomac" according to the exclamation of admiration by General John F. Reynolds at the second battle of Fredericksburg, passed away at his home on North Jefferson Street about 2:30 o'clock Wednesday morning.

With his passing from life one of the most honored and respected citizens of the county is lost to the community he had so long graced, and in tense regret is felt and expressed upon all sides that he has received and answered the long last roll call. No man was held higher esteem than Captain Cooper and every person who knew him justly considered the gallant veteran a friend.

His career as a defender of the Stars & Stripes, his conduct as a man, a citizen and a friend all endeared him to the hearts of the people and his death will long be regretted.

The end was not unexpected for he had been in failing health for some months, suffering from heart weakness. This first became manifest when he was stricken while attending the recent National Encampment of the GAR at Denver last summer. After returning home he recovered to a great extent and was able to be at his place of business as usual, although his strength was not restored. For some weeks past he had been confined to his home and it was for several days realized that all hope of recovery had passed and the family and friends awaited the end with what resignation they could. The gallant Captain himself also realized this and looked for the peace and hope to rejoining upon the shore the loved ones who had preceded him there.

The record of Captain Cooper in the dark days of the civil war was one that reflects honor upon himself and his gallant men and the entire community that sent them forth.

He was born March 6th 1840 in Allegany County and celebrated the 60th anniversary of his birth the first part of this month. His father was the late George Cooper, one of men of the affairs in western Pennsylvania during early days, who later settled near Mt. Jackson.

Captain Cooper enlisted with the Mt. Jackson Guards on April 26th 1861, rushing to arms shortly after Fort Sumter had been fired upon. He was immediately elected First Sergeant; Captain Henery T. Danforth became Captain. The company was mustered into the state service June 8th 1861 and at Camp Wright, Pittsburgh, was accepted as part of the Light Artillery forces of the commonwealth and became "Battery B" of the first regiment of Pennsylvania Light Artillery.

Captain Cooper was then elected second lieutenant. When the Battery was moved to Harrisburg July 22nd Captain Danforth was promoted to Majorship and lieutenant Cooper was then elected Captain of the Battery showing his popularity even as a young man.

The Battery was sworn into the United States service August 5th of that year and was immediately sent to Washington and joined the Army of the Potomac, becoming part of the first brigade of General McCall's division of Pennsylvania reserves, commanded by General john F. Reynolds,Who met his death on the battlefield at Gettysburg. During the entire civil war Coopers Battery was first and fifth army corps and constituted a part of the Pennsylvania reserves during its service.

Coopers Battery participated in more than 27 engagements that find rank as battles in the pages of history and was fiercely engaged in nine of the 12 great battles of the war, in which the losses reached more than 12000 men, which shows its service. Among the greater battles in which it took part were the Second Bull Run, Peninsula Campaign, Antietim, the First and Second battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and the three-day desperate fighting at Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, North Anna River, and Petersburg. In addition to many others of minor importance. Captain Cooper was mustered out of the service August 8th 1864 when his term of enlistment expired.

During his service he had several horse's shot under him in battle and the service he saw was of the most desperate character. During the second battle of Fredericksburg Coopers Battery alone and single-handed repulsed the confederate counter advance after the union forces had been repulsed.

Standing at the "Angle" and firing grape and canister at the advancing horses until they broke and fled after coming within 50 yards of Cooper and his intrepid men. It was one of the most gallant

Acts of the entire war and the men of Battery B decided to face capture and death rather than retreat for that would have meant the entire left wing of the Union Army which was then in a desperate plight General Reynolds relized the gravity of the occasion and the full impact of the Mt. Jackson men's heroism and it was then he galloped up to the Bloody Angle and made the famous exclamation quoted above, which is found in histories of the great conflict.

The Battery lost 21 men in action during the war and had 52 men wounded, although the records show over 100 wounds inflicted upon them. This is because many of the wounded recovered and returned to the service, to be wounded again. The ratio of loss was greater than that of any other volunteer Battery during 0 the entire civil war. Over 11,300 rounds of ammunition were used by the battery which was always in front , owing to the well known coolness and daring of the gallant Captain. He was a personal friend of General Meade and General Reynolds as well as General Hunt, the Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac and was frequently recommended for advancement but refused in order to remain with the Battery and the men he began his service.

He was once commissioned a Major of the first Pennsylvania Light Artillery regiment but declined.

Later he was recommended by General Meade for the Colonelcy of the same regiment, but never presented it to the war department and so lost the honor. General Meade's recommendation is now among the Captains private papers.

In his private life he was modest and retiring to such a degree that any honors he received had to be forced upon him against his inclination. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and of the patriotic orders of the men who fought in the conflict that almost tore the nation asunder.

He is survived by one daughter, Miss Mary, who resides at home. His wife died many years ago and the gallant captain was the last of his immediate family. His sister Mrs McElwee of New Wilmington passed away last week, but his condition was then so low that his family feared to inform him of it would be when he met her upon the other shore.

Truly, with the death of Captain James Harvey Cooper this city has lost a citizen of whom the community might well be proud and would have loved to honor far more than it did, had he not declined all matter of the nature.

Funeral services, Friday afternoon at 230 o'clock from the Cooper residence no 173 North Jefferson street. Interment at Greenwood.

Source: New Castle News, March 21, 1906

Submitted by S Debo