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Cooper's Scouts

I found this very interesting article in Memphis Appeal of April 26, 1864.

This story, taken in context of the Jones County issue of 63-64 gives another side of the history of the Piney Woods deserters.

"Capt. D. G. Cooper, with his company of scouts, recently visited Simpson County, Miss., and arrested a large number of deserters, among them being the three notorious Williamsons - Sam, Elias, and Hamp. He captured them and some half dozen others by strategy. There was to be a wedding at Mrs. Williamson's on Thursday night. Capt. Cooper made it convenient to be present with his company and his general- the last disguised as a drunken Texas solder. It rained excessively during the afternoon and night, and the high waters prevented the parson or justice from attending. To keep the crowd together, however, and to give an opportunity for all the expected guests to arrive, the promise was extorted from the captain that he would perform the ceremony- the boys having represented him as possessing the requisite qualifications. Accordingly, in due time, the ceremony was performed by the captain, alias the Rev. D. G. Cooper, and Mr. Henry Berry was married to Miss Lucy Little. Soon after the marriage ceremony was concluded, General Watts, having thrown off his disguise, rode up to the door and ordered the captain to place guards at each door and proceeded to arrest every man in the house, which was done. They made prisoners of eight, including the three Williamsons.

Henry Berry, Elias Williamson, Samuel Williamson, and Hamp Williamson are most probably Pvt. Henry Berry, Pvt. E. Williamson, Pvt. Samuel Williamson and Pvt. H. Williams of Co. H, of the Sixth Mississippi Infantry. (A Simpson County company)

Captain D. G. Cooper is the very young Darius Guy Cooper of Rankin County, Mississippi. He originally enlisted as a private in Co. A, 10th Mississippi Inf. Mar. 27, 1861, transferred to Co. G. serving in Pensacola, Fla., again transferred to Capt. A. G. Harper's Company "East Mississippi Greys" Co. K, 6th Miss. as a 2nd Lt. July 27, 1861 by order of General Bragg after an endorsement on a recommendation for promotion by Mississippi Governor J. J. Pettus on April 15, 1861. Detached for special service to Brandon, Miss. in March of 1863 most likely in response of a letter to Governor Pettus from the Sheriff of Simpson County as follows....

Simpson County Miss March the 31st 1863
Gov. J. J. Pettus

Sir

I take this method of informing you of a set of deserters in my county, I have tried every means in my power & of the citizens to arrest them & they lay out in the woods & are upheld by their friends in their neighborhood I have caught some of the set twice & they have come both times & broke them out of jail & I understand by Capt. May today that they have burned up two Gin houses & Bridge across the River, Sunday Night I therefore call upon you to send me down one hundred Cavalry as speedy as possible & to use all precaution in letting the news come before the Cavalry, there is no telling what they will do to the balance of the citizens that has assisted me in their arrest for further particulars Capt. May will inform you as he can explain in person better that I can by writing & your compliance will oblige me much.
Yours with Respect

Jas. H. Thompson
Shff of Simpson Co.

I know of three men (not named), deserters, who lived in the same area from which the Williamsons and Berry lived that were officially hung by the County Sheriff for being "Yankee Sympathizers" about this time. These are probably some of these men.

I have not determined who "General Watts" is.

I had collected all of this information over the years and tonight I finally put the puzzle together.

Captain D. G. Cooper would survive the war and he and his wife move to California, where he died on March 12, 1879 in San Rafael, Marin County and is buried at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael, Marin County, Ca.

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