War Story

Thomas Cox enlisted on June 10, 1861 in the Confederate Army with Company E. He was appointed to be a Private in the 50th VA Infantry, where he remained for most of his military service.[1] With the 50th infantry Cox participated in the Battle of Carnifex in Virginia on September 10, 1861 in which they were temporarily disbanded because of a high number of injuries, fatalities and company relocations. The new infantry fought in the Battle of Fort Donelson from February 11th-16th, 1862 in which about 12,000 of them were captured by Union forces.[2] Cox remained with the infantry as they served in Forsberg’s Brigade, the Army of Northern Virginia and a few other military groups.[3] One of the most significant battles that Cox participated in was the Battle of Chancellorville, this battle started around April 30, 1863 and is considered one of Robert E. Lee’s greatest victories because they Confederacy was greatly outnumbered during the battle.[4] The last battle that Cox fought in was the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House which started on May 8, 1864 and ended on May 21st. The battle itself had no clear winner but many Confederates, including Cox, were taken at prisoners of war by the Union Army.[5] He was held at the Elmira Civil War Prison in New York from August 2, 1864 to the day he died. On January 25, 1865 Thomas J. Cox died in the Elmira Prison after contracting smallpox.[6]

[1]"Thomas J Cox." Pvt Thomas Cox ( - 1865) - Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed June 05, 2017. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=cox&GSfn=thomas&GSiman=1&GScid=66791&GRid=531397&.

[2]"Fort Donelson." Civil War Trust. Accessed June 05, 2017. https://www.civilwar.org/learn/civil-war/battles/fort-donelson.

[3]"Battle Unit Details." National Parks Service. Accessed June 05, 2017. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CVA0050RI.

[4]"Battle Detail." National Parks Service. Accessed June 05, 2017. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battles-detail.htm?battleCode=va032.

[5]"Spotsylvania Court House." Civil War Trust. Accessed June 05, 2017. https://www.civilwar.org/learn/civil-war/battles/spotsylvania-court-house.

[6]"Thomas J Cox: person, pictures and information." Fold3. Accessed June 05, 2017. https://www.fold3.com/page/638408749thomasj%20cox/photos/13812776/.