Records of Jacob Milton Cooper
Contributed by Jim Cooper
(We included his military records but he actually was not in the Civil War)
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(Letter from his mother to have him dischared)
Honorable Sir, as I am anxious to have my son discharged I address a few lines in order to show you my situation as I am fifty five years of age and cannot make my living without the help of my children. I have no family connection in this state but my children and they are scattered andmarried. They help me to my present home circumstances beyond human control placed me in a verry trying situation. My husband died April 12, 1857 he had bought a farm and had 15 acres of wheat in it was ... killed I could not make payment the mortgage was closed I lost my home. I struggled on with six childen then the rebellion broke out my oldest son enlisted in Co K 16th Ill Volunteers then my 2nd son enlisted with his brother then the 3rd son enlisted they all were in hard battles. My oldest son was with Gen. Sherman the 2nd also who was severly wounded before they reached Atlanta and sent to the hospital,
the 4th son Jacob M. Cooper is the one I ask to be discharged, he never was healthy and has been sick in the hospital at Fort Levenworth three months the surgeon sent for a discharge for him but they got marching orders before the discharge and they went to Fort Sully Dakota Territory. He was enlisted by Captain Joseph Bush on the 28th day of November 1865 to serve 3 years he wa enlisted at Quincy Ills, he is in poor health and wants to get home and I am very anxious to get him home to help me as I have two younger children to support. I ask for Jacob Milton Cooper an honorable discharge from the United States Service you can see by the foregoing that my family is all Loyal and I have this favor from or of you ..
Yours very respectfully, Rebecca Cooper Pittsfield Pike County Ills..
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Jacob Milton Cooper - Musician Company C 22nd Infantry.
It is shown by the official records on file in the War Department that Jacob M. Cooper enlisted November 29, 1865
to serve three years, giving his age as 18 years; that he was assigned to Company H which in December 1866 became 22nd Inf; that he joined the company Dec. 10, 1865; he was transferred as a private to the regimental band, 22nd Infantry, December 19, 1867 and thence to Company C, same regimental.
While he was serving in the last-named organization hi smother made an affidavit to the effect that he was a minor; that he had enlisted in the Army without her consent, and that she desired to have him discharged from the military service. Upon an investigation of the matter an order was issued from the War Dept., dated July 10, 1868, in which directions were given that the soldier be discharged the service under the provisions of paragraph 1371,
Revised Army Regulations of 1863, which reads as follows:
"Every enlisted man discharged as a minor, or from other causes involving fraud on his part in the enlistment or discharge by the civil authorities, shall forfeit all pay and allowances due at the time of the discharge and shall not receive any final statements."
The order of July 10, 1868, was duly carried into execution and the soldier discharged July 19, 1868 in accordance. It appears that an Act of Congress (Private No 143) approved Sept. 19, 1914 provided "that in the administration of the pension laws and the laws governing the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, or any branch thereof, Jacob M. Cooper shall hereafter be held and considered to have been honorable discharged from the military of the US as a private in Company C. 22nd Regiment US Infantry July 18, 1868.
Official statement furnished by Mr. D.M. Cooper, 112 South Lake St. Miles City Montana July 7, 1927.
By Authority of the Secretary of War: Lutz Wahl Acting the Adjutant General.
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