COOPER, COLUMBUS (1844 ~ 1928). Columbus Cooper, Confederate veteran, was born in 1844 and not much is known about his early life. Before joining the Confederacy, he was a farmer in North Carolina where he was born.
Cooper joined Company F of the 14th North Carolina Infantry Brigade that became known as the "Rough and Ready Guards" on May 3, 1861 in Asheville, North Carolina. He's shown as present in the military Muster Roll until May of 1863. On or about the 5th of May 1863, he was wounded severely in the battle of Chancellorsville. Chancellorsville is the same battle in which Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded. Cooper was shot in the left leg and taken to a hospital in Virginia where he began his recovery. He was cleared to return to field duty in December of 1864. However a few months later his brigade surrendered with General Lee in April of 1865.
Cooper moved to Texas in 1866 or 1867 and worked as a builder, contractor and mechanic. On his Confederate Pension Application he said he had no property because he lost everything in the Galveston Flood September 8, 1900. Cooper also made residence in Matagorda County and Kingsville, Texas before moving to Austin to live in the Texas Confederate Men's Home. He was not married at the time. He died December 19, 1928 and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery shortly after.
Information taken from Compiled Military Service Records, Confederate Pension Application, Confederate Home Roster, Death Certificate, www.people-places.com and mikescivilwar.com. |
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