William Ruffin Cox

William Ruffin Cox

Name: William Ruffin Cox
State Served: North Carolina
Highest Rank: Brig-Gen
Birth Date: 1832
Death Date: 1919
Birth Place: Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina
Army: Confederacy
Promotions: Promoted to Full Major (2nd NC Inf)
Promoted to Full Brig-Gen

Biography: Brigadier-General William Ruffin Cox was born March 11, 1832,
at Scotland Neck, Halifax county, N. C. He is of English and
Scotch-Irish descent, and his ancestors were early and
prominent colonists in the new world.

The father of General Cox died when the latter was four years
old, and later his mother moved to Nashville, Tenn., where he
was educated and graduated in letters at the Franklin college,
and in law at the famous Lebanon law school. He formed a
partnership in the legal practice with a prominent member of
the Nashville bar, and was active in his profession until
1857, when he removed to North Carolina and engaged in
agriculture in Edgecomb county.

Removing to Raleigh in 1859, he was nominated for the
legislature on the Democratic ticket, and though leading the
same, was defeated by thirteen votes.
Upon the outbreak of the war in 1861, he contributed liberally
to the equipment of the "Ellis artillery" company, and was

employed in organizing a company of infantry when he was
commissioned, by Governor Ellis, major of the Second regiment,
North Carolina State troops, commanded by Col. C. C. Tew.

Upon the death of the gallant colonel at Sharpsburg, Judge W.
P. Bynum became colonel and Cox lieutenant-colonel, and soon
afterward Bynum resigned and Cox took command of the regiment,
and was promoted to colonel in March, 1863. In the battle of
Chancellorsville, where his brigade suffered great loss, he
was three times wounded.

In his official report General Ramseur gave unusual and
prominent attention to "the manly and chivalrous Cox of the
Second North Carolina, the accomplished gentleman, splendid
soldier and warm friend, who, though wounded three times,
remained with his regiment until exhausted. In common with
the entire command, I regret his absence from the field, where
he loves to be."

He was able to rejoin his command after the return from
Pennsylvania and take part in the Wilderness and Spottsylvania
battles of 1864. He took a conspicuous part with Ramseur's
brigade in the battle of May 12th, for which Generals Lee and
Ewell gave their thanks upon the field.

After this battle he, though the junior colonel, was promoted
to the command of the brigade, composed of the Second, Fourth,
Fourteenth and Thirtieth regiments, to which were attached
those of the First and Third regiments who escaped from the
wreck of Steuart's brigade of Johnson's division.

After the battle of Cold Harbor he served with Early's corps
in the relief of Lynchburg, the expedition through Maryland to
Washington, including the battle of Monocacy, and the
Shenandoah battles of the fall of 1864. He then returned to
the heroic army of Northern Virginia in the trenches before
Petersburg, participated in the gallant and desperate effort
of Gordon's corps to break the enemy's line at Fort Stedman,
and during the retreat rounded out his reputation for good
soldiership.

It has been related by Governor Vance that on one occasion
during the retreat to the west, when General Lee was

endeavoring to form a line from disorganized troops, his heart
was gladdened by the appearance of a small but orderly
brigade, marching with precision. He called out to an aide:
"What troops are those?" "Cox's North Carolina brigade," was
the reply. Then it was that, taking off his hat and bowing
his head with knightly courtesy, he said, "God bless gallant
old North Carolina."

Cox led the division at the last charge at Appomattox, and had
ordered his brigade to cover the retreat, when he was recalled
to the rear. It was the brigade of General Cox, marching in
the rear, which faced about, and with the steadiness of
veterans on parade, poured such a sudden and deadly volley
into the overwhelming numbers of the Federals that they
temporarily abandoned the attempt to capture the command.

General Cox was with his men to the bitter end. Eleven wounds
had not sufficed to retire him from the service.

Subsequently he resumed his law practice, and became president
of the Chatham railroad. For six years he held the office of
solicitor of the metropolitan district; was chairman of the
Democratic State executive committee for five years; was
delegate for the State-at-large in the national convention of
1876, and in January, 1877, was appointed circuit judge of the
Sixth judicial district.

This office he resigned to enter Congress, where he served
with distinction for six years. Intending to retire from
politics, General Cox returned to his estate in Edgecomb and
resumed the pursuit of agriculture, and was thus employed
when, without his knowledge, his name was agreed upon and he
was elected as secretary of the United States Senate, to succeed Gen. Anson G. McCook.

This position he has since filled to the entire satisfaction
of that great body, also giving much personal attention to his
agricultural interests.

General Cox was married in 1857 to a daughter of James S.
Battle, and after her death in 1880, to a daughter of Rt. Rev.
T. B. Lyman, bishop of North Carolina.

Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p303

Further information:

Brigadier-General William Ruffin Cox was botn March 11, 1832, at Scotland Neck, Halifax
county, N. C. He is of English and Scotch-Irish descent, and his ancestors were early and
prominent colonists in the new world. The father of General Cox died when the latter was
four years old, and later his mother moved to Nashville, Tenn., where he was educated and
graduated in letters at the Franklin college, and in law at the famous Lebanon law school.
He formed a partnership in the legal practice with a prominent member of the Nashville bar,
and was active in his profession until 1857, when he removed to North Carolina and engaged
in agriculture in Edgecomb county. Removing to Raleigh in 1859, he was nominated for the
legislature on the Democratic ticket, and though leading the same, was defeated by thirteen
votes. Upon the outbreak of the war in 1861, he contributed liberally to the equipment of the
"Ellis artillery" company, and was employed in organizing a company of infantry when he
was commissioned, by Governor Ellis, major of the Second regiment, North Carolina State
troops, commanded by Col. C. C. Tew. Upon the death of the gallant colonel at Sharpsburg,
Judge W. P. Bynum became Colonel and Cox lieutenant-colonel, and soon afterward Bynum
resigned and Cox took command of the regiment, and was promoted to colonel in March,
1863. In the battle of Chancellorsville, where his brigade suffered great loss, he was three times
wounded. In his official report General Ramseur gave unusual and prominent attention to "the
manly and chivalrous Cox of the Second North Carolina, the accomplished gentleman, splendid
soldier and warm friend, who, though wounded three times, remained with his regiment until
exhausted. In common with the entire command, I regret his absence from the field, where he
loves to be." He was able to rejoin his command after the return from Pennsylvania and take
part in the Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles of 1864. He took a conspicuous part with
Ramseur's brigade in the battle of May 12th, for which Generals Lee and Ewell gave their thanks
upon the field. After this battle he, though the junior colonel, was promoted to the command of
the brigade, composed of the Second, Fourth, Fourteenth and Thirtieth regiments, to which
were attached those of the First and Third regiments who escaped from the wreck of Steuart's
brigade of Johnson's division. After the battle of Cold Harbor he served with Early's corps in the
relief of Lynchburg, the expedition through Maryland to Washington, including the battle of
Momocacy, and the Shenandoah battles of the fall of 1864. He then returned to the heroic
army of Northern Virginia in the trenches before Petersburg, participated in the gallant and
desperate effort of Gordon's corps to break the enemy's line at Fort Stedman, and during the
retreat rounded out his reputation for good soldiership. It has been related by Governor Vance
that on one occasion during the retreat to the west, when General Lee was endeavoring to form
a line from disorganized troops, his heart was gladdened by the appearance of a small but
orderly brigade, marching with precision. He called out to an aide: "What troops are those?"
"Cox 's North Carolina brigade," was the reply. Then it was that, taking off his hat and bowing
his head with knightly courtesy, he said, "God bless gallant old North Carolina." Cox led the
division at the last charge at Appomattox, and had ordered his brigade to cover the retreat,
when he was recalled to the rear. It was the brigade of General Cox, marching in the rear,
which faced about, and with the steadiness of veterans on parade, poured such a sudden
and deadly volley into the overwhelming numbers of the Federals that they temporarily
abandoned the attempt to capture the command. General Cox was with his men to the bitter
end. Eleven wounds had not sufficed to retire him from the service. Subsequently he resumed
his law practice, and became president of the Chatham railroad. For six years he held the
office of solicitor of the metropolitan district; was chairman of the Democratic State executive
committee for five years; was delegate for the State-at-large in the national convention of 1876,
and in January, 1877, was appointed circuit judge of the Sixth judicial district. This office he
resigned to enter Congress, where he served with dis- tinction for six years. Intending to retire
from politics, General Cox returned to his estate in Edgecomb and resumed the pursuit of
agriculture, and was thus employed when, without his knowledge, his name was agreed upon
and he was elected as secretary of the United States Senate, to succeed Gen. Anson G.
McCook. This position he has since filled to the entire satisfaction of that great body, also
giving much personal attention to his agricultural interests. General Cox was married in 1857
to a daughter of James S. Battle, and after her death in 1880, to a daughter of Rt. Rev. T. B.
Lyman, bishop of North Carolina.