One interesting ironic twist to Twiggs' dismissal from United States service for "treachery to the flag of his country" is that the order was signed by adjutant general Samuel Cooper. Cooper tendered his resignation from United States service on March 7, 1861. The resignation was accepted but was to take effect as of March 1, 1861, the date Cooper signed the order dismissing Twiggs from United States service.

Samuel Cooper was born in Hackensack, New Jersey but married the sister of United States Senator James Mason of Virginia. He became a Virginian by adoption and identified with the Southern Cause.

The order of seniority of the six United States officers who became Confederate Generals of the Line was: 1th, J.E. Johnston; 2d, Samuel Cooper; 3d, A.S Johnston; 4th, R.E. Lee; 5th, G.T. Beauregard and 6th, Braxton Bragg.

Braxton Bragg resigned from United States service in 1856 and was appointed and confirmed as brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States on March 7, 1861. He was promoted major general of the Line on September 12, 1861, the sixth and last officer to receive a regular commission in the Army of the Confederate States.

Cooper was appointed and confirmed as brigadier general of the Line on March 15, 1861.

Jefferson Davis's animosity toward J.E. Johnston resulted in new appointments being issued on August 31, 1861. Cooper was appointed general to rank from May 16, 1861. The dates of new appointments of the other generals are: 2d, A.S Johnston, May 28, 1861; 3d, R.E. Lee, June 14, 1861; 4th, J.E. Johnston, July 4, 1861; 5th, G.T. Beauregard, July 21, 1861; 6th, Braxton Bragg was commissioned in the regular army on September 12, 1861, as noted above.

The only result of these new appointments was to demote J.E. Johnston from first to fourth in seniority. Twiggs was not tendered a regular commission but was appointed major general in the Provisional Army of the Confederacy.

The irony of all this is that a New Jersey Yankee became the senior officer in Confederate service and served as adjutant general of the Confederate Army until May, 1865. General Cooper turned the records of his office over to United States authorities intact thus preserving valuable historical documents.

RICHARD E. IRBY, JR.

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