I've never been convinced of the extent to which Cooper may or may not have been influenced by Ossian. Certainly, he does not mention Ossian (or McPherson) in his correspondence and journals. The only specific study that I know is Georg Friden, James Fenimore Cooper and Ossian (Upsala: The American Institute in the University of Upsala, 1949), and he does not document any specific knowledge of Ossian by Cooper, simply stating "As Cooper spent several years in England he undoubtedly read Ossian." Since Cooper only spent several months in England, on and off, between 1828-33, and so far as I know did no literary reading there, this is hardly evidence. Friden relies on internal evidence, notably in Cooper's treatment of native Americans -- and is apparently unaware of Cooper's specific sources in this respect, nor the accuracy (in terms of being found elsewhere in the literature) of his "metaphorical" language put in the mouth of Indians, that Friden assumes must be copied from Ossian. Certainly Cooper knew his Scott and Byron, and there may be indirect links, but I am dubious of any direct Ossianic influence on Cooper.