The Life of WILLIAM RUFFIN COX
WILLIAM RUFFIN COX 1832-1919
BRIGADIER GENERAL, CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA
BATTLE SECTION, LOT B-10
William Ruffin Cox was born March 11, 1832, in Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina, the son of Thomas and Olivia Norfleet Cox. As a young boy, William attended Vine Hill Academy in New Bern. William’s father was a prominent merchant and partner in the firms of Martlain, Cox & Co., in Plymouth, North Carolina and Devereux, Clark & Co., of Philadelphia, mostly engaging in the export and import trade. Thomas Cox was also a member of the North Carolina Senate and one of the first advocates of the building of railroads in North Carolina. Thomas died in 1836, and William was taken to Nashville, Tennessee, by his mother. William entered Franklin College, Franklin, Tennessee, in 1846, where he graduated in 1851. With his interests in law, he attended Lebanon College Law school in Lebanon, Tennessee, graduating in 1853. William’s fellow classmates included General Bares, C.S.A., and later a senator from Tennessee and Judges McHenry and East, both becoming members of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
William R. Cox was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1853 and began to practice law in Nashville, entering into a partnership with the Honorable John G. Ferguson, a much experienced and accomplished lawyer. In 1857, William returned to Edgecombe County, North Carolina, and in 1859, he moved to Raleigh, and the following year he was nominated by the Democrats as a candidate for the North Carolina House of Commons on the ticket with E. G. Haywood and Henry Mordecai opposing the Honorable Kemp Plummer Battle and J. P. H. Russ. Mr. Cox and his associate lost the election by a small margin. However, as a result of strong campaigning, William R. Cox became widely known for his political savvy.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Cox was instrumental in equipping an artillery company, he then began recruiting a company of infantry when Governor Ellis appointed him a Major of the Second Regiment of the North Carolina Troops, under the command of Colonel C. C. Few, Judge W. P. Bynum, a Lieutenant Colonel, Judge W. T. Faircloth, Quartermaster, and Judge Hillard, Commissary. Upon the death of Colonel Few at Sharpsburg, Cox became a Lieutenant Colonel with Judge Bynum being promoted to Colonel, Commanding. When Bynum resigned to accept the elected post of solicitor following the battle of Fredricksburg, Cox was promoted to Colonel and assigned command of the Regiment, and eventually he would command the entire Brigade in “Stonewall” Jackson’s Corps.
General Cox was undoubtedly one of the most lucky, if not the hardiest of men in the Civil War. That luck is quite evident from the fact that Cox was wounded 11 times over a 4-year period.
Brigadier General Stephen D. Ramseur, in his report of the Chancellorsville campaign, said: “and last though not least, the manly and chivalrous (Colonel) Cox of the Second North Carolina, the accomplished gentleman, splendid soldier, and warm friend, who, though wounded five times, remained with his regiment until exhausted. In common with the entire command, I regret his temporary absence from the field, where he loves to be.”
Disabled by his wounds, Colonel Cox was unable to led his men at Gettysburg. But he rejoined his unit as it was returning from Gettysburg.
After the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, he was placed in command of Ramseur’s Brigade, composed of the Second, Fourth and Fourteenth and Thirtieth Regiments, and sections of the First and Second Stuart’s Brigade.
During the Confederate Army’s disorganized retreat to Appomattox, General Robert E. Lee observed the orderly march of Cox’s brigade. Lee called out to his aide, ‘What troops are those?’ ‘Cox’s North Carolina Brigade’ was the reply. Lee, noticeably stirred, removed his hat and shouted to the passing men, “God bless gallant old North Carolina.” On April 9, 1865, Lee, remembering Cox’s disciplined troops, decided to attempt a breakout from Appomattox and he ask Cox and his North Carolina troops to spearhead the effort. Cox’s troops charged the surprised Union forces, quickly gained the advantage, and opened the road to Lynchburg. Unfortunately for Lee, the Union forces had thousands of reinforcements in place ready to block such a move and, within 24 hours, the overwhelming reinforcements had once again secured the Lynchburg road. History notes that Cox’s assault was the last Confederate victory of the Civil War.
After the war, Cox was elected president of the Chatham Railroad Company and in 1868 was appointed Solicitor for Raleigh. During the period 1866 to 1870, he served as solicitor of the Sixth North Carolina District. In 1868 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In 1873, William was elected chairman of the State Education Association. During the period 1875 to 1877 General Cox served as Chairman of the North Carolina Democratic State Committee. In 1877, Governor Vance appointed him a judge in the Sixth North Carolina District Superior Court during where he served until December 31, 1878.
On March 4, 1881, William Ruffin Cox was elected a Democrat to the Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination and on April 6, 1893, was elected Secretary of the United States Senate, serving until January 31, 1900. General William Ruffin Cox died in Richmond, Virginia, December 26, 1919, as one of the last surviving Generals of the Confederacy.
