Brigadier-General William Ruffin Cox
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
.................................................................................................
GRIMES, BRYAN
NORTH CAROLINA
Major, Fourth North Carolina Infantry (State troops), July
16, 1861
Colonel, Fourth North Carolina Infantry, June 19, 1862.
Brigadier general, P. A. C. S., May 19, 1864.
Major general, P. A. C. S., February 15, 1865.
Died August 14, 1880.
Commands.
Brigade composed of the Thirty-second, Forty-third, Forty-
fifth and Fifty-third North Carolina Regiments Infantry, and
the Second North Carolina Battalion of Infantry, formerly
Brigadier General Daniels' Brigade.
Division composed of his own brigade and the brigades of
Battle, Cook and Cox, Army of Northern Virginia, from September
19, 1864, to April 9, 1865.
Source: Generals of the Confederate States Army
***********************************************************************
Major-General Bryan Grimes was born at Grimesland, Pitt
county, N. C., November 2, 1828, the youngest son of Bryan and
Nancy Grimes. He was graduated at the university of North
Carolina in 1848, then made his home upon a plantation in Pitt
county, and in April, 1851, was married to Elizabeth Hilliard,
daughter of Dr. Thomas Davis, of Franklin county.
This lady died a few years later, and in 1860 he traveled in
Europe, but returned home soon after the national election.
He hastened to the scene of conflict at Fort Sumter as soon as
he heard of the bombardment, and then visited Pensacola and
New Orleans, returning to take a seat in the convention of his
State which adopted the ordinance of secession.
In the latter part of May he resigned his seat in this body
and accepted appointment as major of the Fourth infantry
regiment, in organization at Garysburg under Col. George B.
Anderson.
He reached Virginia after the battle of First Manassas; May 1,
1862, was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and thereafter
commanded his regiment with promotion to colonel June 19th.
At Seven Pines every officer of the regiment but himself, and
462 out of 520 men, were killed or wounded. His horse's head
was blown off by a shell, and the animal fell upon him, but he
waved his sword and shouted, "Forward!" and when released from
his painful position, seized the regimental flag and led his
men in their successful charge.
At Mechanicsville the remnant of the command was again
distinguished. At this time General Anderson declared,
"Colonel Grimes and his regiment are the keystone of my
brigade."
He was disabled by typhoid fever until the Maryland campaign,
and as he went into that his leg was so injured by the kick of
a horse that amputation was considered necessary; but
nevertheless he took the field at Sharpsburg, and another
horse was killed under him, the third of the seven which he
thus lost during his career.
General Anderson was mortally wounded in this battle, and in
November Grimes was assigned to temporary command of the
brigade, which he led at the battle of Fredericksburg. At
Chancellorsville he and his regiment were distinguished on all
three days of battle, on the third driving the enemy from
their breastworks at the point of the bayonet, but at the cost
of many lives. In this fight the gallant colonel again
narrowly escaped death.
In the Pennsylvania campaign he and his men were in the
advance of Ewell's corps, and on picket eight miles from
Harrisburg; and at Gettysburg on the first day they were the
first to enter the village and drive the enemy to the heights
beyond, only pausing in obedience to orders.
During the retreat from Pennsylvania he served efficiently on
the rear guard. At Spottsylvania Court House, after General
Ramseur was wounded, he led the brigade in an impetuous charge
which recovered much of the ground gained by Hancock at the
"bloody angle," in recognition of which General Lee told the
brigade "they deserved the thanks of the countryÄthey had
saved his army."
General Daniel having been mortally wounded in this fight,
Colonel Grimes was put in command of his brigade. On May
19th, after he had made an effective fight in a flank movement
upon the enemy, General Rodes declared: "You have saved
Ewell's corps, and shall be promoted, and your commission
shall bear date from this day. "
This promise was fulfilled early in June, and soon afterward
he took his men to the Shenandoah valley, and joined in the
movement through Maryland to Washington. In the fall campaign
in the valley, though in impaired health, he did his duty
gallantly and desperately against the overwhelming numbers of
the Federals, and had many remarkable escapes from death or
capture.
When Ramseur fell at Cedar Creek, he took command of the
division, which he held until the end, being promoted major-
general in February, 1865. In spite of their terrible
reverses, he infused such spirit in his men that they were
able to rout 4,000 Federal cavalry at Rude's hill, November
22nd.
In the spring of 1865 he fought in the Petersburg trenches,
and participated with great gallantry in the fight at Fort
Stedman, in which he rode a captured horse, and was a
conspicuous target to the enemy, but still seemed to bear a
charmed life. When his line was broken April 2nd, he rushed
down his line on foot, and seizing a musket joined in the fire
upon the enemy, until his troops, encouraged by his coolness,
were able to recover the greater part of their lines.
During the retreat from Petersburg he was almost constantly in
battle; at Sailor's Creek saved himself by riding his horse
through the stream and up the precipitous banks amid a shower
of bullets, and on the next day led his division in a splendid
charge which captured the guns taken from Mahone and many
Federal prisoners, winning the compliments of General Lee.
Bushrod Johnson's division was now added to his command, and
on April 9th the other two divisions of the corps, Evans' and
Walker's, were put under his command, he having volunteered to
make the attack to clear the road toward Lynchburg. He was
successful in driving the enemy from his front, but after
receiving repeated orders to withdraw fell back to his
original line, and was then informed of the proposed
surrender.
At first refusing to submit to this, he was about to call upon
his men to cut their way out, when General Gordon reminded him
of the interpretation which might be put upon such action
during a truce, and he was compelled by his sense of honor to
acquiesce.
As an estimate of his character as a soldier, the words of
Gen. D. H. Hill in March, 1863, are exact and comprehensive:
"He has been in many pitched battles and has behaved most
gallantly in them all. His gallantry, ripe experience,
admirable training, intelligence and moral worth constitute
strong claims for pro motion. "
After the close of hostilities he returned to his plantation.
He had married in 1863, Charlotte Emily, daughter of Hon. John
B. Bryan, of Raleigh, and several children were born to them.
His life went on in quiet and honor until August 14, 1880,
when he was shot by an assassin and almost instantly killed.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 314
................................................................................................
Brigadier-General Robert D. Johnston
Brigadier-General Robert D. Johnston, of North Carolina, at
the time of the secession of his State, was second lieutenant
in the Beattie's Ford rifles, State troops. He entered the
Confederate service as captain of Company K, Twenty-third
North Carolina infantry, July 15, 1861.
His regiment was on the peninsula during 1861 and the spring
of 1862, and participated in the battle of Williamsburg. On
May 21, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-
colonel. He was wounded at Seven Pines while gallantly
leading his men, and at South Mountain and Sharpsburg fought
with conspicuous bravery in Garland's brigade.
In describing the fighting on his part of the field near the
center of the Confederate line at Sharpsburg, Gen. D. H. Hill
reported the fact that the Twenty-third North Carolina was
brought off by "the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston" and
put in position in the sunken road, and he especially
commended Johnston among the officers distinguished on that
bloody field.
At Chancellorsville, when Major Rowe, leading the Twelfth
North Carolina, was killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston took
command of that regiment. This regiment and the Twenty-third
were both in Rodes' gallant division, which was in the front
of Jackson's brilliant flank attack. In this battle the North
Carolinians under Johnston captured a stand of the enemy's
colors.
After Gettysburg Johnston was promoted to the rank of
brigadier-general, to date September 1, 1863, and assigned to
the command of his brigade, formerly led by Samuel Garland and
D. K. McRae. It was composed of the Fifth, Twelfth, Twentieth
and Twenty-third regiments and Second battalion of North
Carolina infantry. This command fought under its gallant
leader in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, at
which latter battle General Johnston received a severe wound.
He was again in command during the valley campaign under
Early, participating in the series of severe battles which
ended with that of Cedar Creek, a victory in the morning, a
defeat in the afternoon.
He was with his men in the subsequent weary winter, watching
and fighting in the trenches around Petersburg, and was
included in the surrender at Appomattox.
After the close of hostilities General Johnston practiced law
at Charlotte for twenty years from 1867 as a partner of Col.
H. C. Jones.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 320
...............................................................................................
Expired Image Removed
Brigadier-General William G. Lewis
Brigadier-General William G. Lewis, of North Carolina, began
his service in the Confederate army as third lieutenant of
Company A, First North Carolina infantry, April 21, 1861.
By the close of the year he had shown such efficiency as an
officer that we find him on January 17, 1862, major of the
Thirty-third North Carolina, and before the active campaign of
1862 had fairly begun, lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-third
North Carolina infantry, April 25, 1862.
In the Gettysburg campaign this regiment was in the brigade of
Gen. Junius Daniel, of Rodes' division and Ewell's corps. On
June 10, 1863, Ewell's corps left Brandy Station, and two days
later reached Cedarville, whence Ewell sent Rodes and Jenkins
to capture Martinsburg, while he with Early's and Edward
Johnson's divisions marched directly upon Winchester.
On June 14th Ewell captured Winchester and Rodes captured
Martinsburg. The valley was thus cleared of Federal troops,
4,000 of whom were captured. Immense supplies were the spoils
of the Confederates, who marched on and crossed the Potomac.
In his report of the battle of Gettysburg, Gen. Junius Daniel,
after giving an account of the part acted by his brigade,
makes special mention of Lieut.-Col. W. G. Lewis among others,
and adds, "These officers all acted with bravery and coolness,
as did all my officers and men whose conduct came under my
observation, but the above were more conspicuous than the
rest."
Lewis participated with credit in the siege and capture of
Plymouth, N. C., in April, 1864, winning promotion to colonel,
and then, being ordered to Petersburg, won the rank of
brigadier-general in Beauregard's campaign against Butler.
Here he was in command of Hoke's old brigade, the Sixth,
Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth and Fifty-seventh North Carolina
regiments and First battalion, which was assigned to the
division of Gen. Robert Ransom.
The latter, in his report of the battle of Drewry's bluff, May
16th, said that after they had gained the enemy's outer works,
and were in confusion in the midst of a dense fog, a sudden
assault was delivered by the Federals, driving back the left
of Hoke's division. Though ammunition was almost exhausted,
"Colonel Lewis was ordered to throw the only regiment he had
in hand at double-quick" to the point of danger, "which was
handsomely done, and he engaged the enemy long enough to allow
Colquitt's brigade, of the reserve, to arrive. "
In command of his brigade, assigned to Ramseur's division,
General Lewis participated in Early's victorious march down
the Shenandoah valley and through Maryland to Washington, and
in the hard battles with Sheridan in the valley, during the
remainder of 1864, and then returning to Richmond and
Petersburg was on duty there until the retreat westward.
In a desperate fight of the rear guard at Farmville, April
7th, he was severely wounded and taken prisoner.
This gallant officer participated in thirty-seven battles and
heavy skirmishes. His life since the war has been one of
activity and honor. He has served as State engineer thirteen
years, and at present is chief engineer of the Albany &
Raleigh railroad, with his residence at Goldsboro.