Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-09
GEN. WILLIAM R. cox.
ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN MEN
IN NORTH CAROLINA.

The Brilliant Soldier Who Made the Last
Confederate Charge at AppomattoI-His
Description Of the Scene just After
Lees surrender-Gen. Cox's Home Life.
Especial Correspondence.l
RALEIGH, N. c., June 4.-One OF the best
known men In North Corolina is Gen. Will
lam Ruffin Gov He is a prominent figure
in politics as be was in the civil war. His
political record marks him as a man Of de-
cision and rare force of character, just as did
his last charge at Appomattox Court House,
Virginia, on the fateful 9th of April, 1865.
Gen Cox was born at Scotland Neck, n. c.,
in 1881, and carries SO well his 81 years that
he does not look day older than 45 His
father was Thomas Cox, great merchant of
the Chowan section, while his grandfather
was at one time an officer In the British
navy, and later captain OF vessel In the
American merchant service, in which he was
captured by the British. On the death of
his father, in 1895, Gen Cox was taken by his
mother to Tennessee, and they resided
at Nashville He attended school near
there, and later was enrolled at Franklin
college, graduating with distinction in 1850.
He next attended the law school at Lebanon,
Tennessee, and In 1858 formed law partner
ship with Hon John G. Ferguson. In 1857
be relinquished his residence in Tennessee to
return to North Carolina and became c cot
ton planter in Edgecombe county, then con-
sidered one of the richest agricultural corn-
munities in the entire country. Two years
later he went to Raleigh. He was In politics
a Democrat and was in 1860 nominated for a
seat in the lower house of the legislature. but
was beaten by small majority by his Wing
opponent The war came Oh a little later
Gen Cox was bitterly opposed to secession,
though an advocate of the system Of states
rights When he saw that war was inevi-
table his action was prompt He gave
largely of his ample means towards the
equipment Of q battery and raised com
pany of infantry. He was, however, at once
appointed major of the Second North Caro-
lima infantry by Governor Clark. Charles
C. Tew was the colonel At the battle Of
Antietam Tor Sharpsburg Tew was killed,
and Cox became colonel The regiment was
throughout the war conspicuously gallant,
and Cox was an able and brave officer, be-
loved and admired by his men and trusted
by his superiors The regiment was in Jack
sons famous corps of foot cavalry in the
Army of Northern Virginia AT Chancel-
lorsville Col Cox was shot down, receiving
three wounds, and half the regiment
were left on the field, dead or disabled.
He was unable to take part in the
Gettysburg campaign, but rejoined Gen,
Lees army on its return from Pennsylvania
He was soon after the battle of Spottsylvania
promoted to brgadier general, and assigned
to the command of the brigade formerly
by Stephen d. Ramseur, COM
posed of the Second, Fourth, Fourteenth and
Thirtieth North Carolina and parts of the
First and Third regiments of Stuayt's bri-
gade He was assigned to Dick Ewell's
corps, and held the position until the close Of
the war. Under his leadership the brigade
a high reputation for gallantry