Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/328

304 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 &quot; Ellis artillery&quot; 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 &quot;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.&quot; 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