NOLAN COUNTY (TEXAS) RECORD, 1894
 
 
 

UNCLE JOHN COX

A Yankee Minie Ball Carried by the Veteran in His Body for Thirty Years Removed

Sweetwater, Nolan Co. Tex., Feb. 15

Considerable interest was manifested on the streets to-day, when the report became current that an old yankee minie ball had been brought to light by Drs. Moody and Archer from the body of Uncle John C. Cox.

Uncle John is an old confederate having been a member of company C, fifth Texas Hood's brigade under Capt. J. E. Anderson. He was wounded several times during the war, having lost a finger at the battle of Sharpsburg, Md., and was wounded again at Gettysburg, Pa., but the ball which he has carried for thirty years, four months and twenty-five days was received at the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1863, in the last day's fighting, and the last charge on Thomas' corps. He was the first man to cross the temporary breast work and fell wounded early in the fight. He was color bearer and fell with the colors flying in his hand. He lay for seven days on the field of battle attended by army surgeons, Drs. Crawford and Ware, and was finally removed from the field by a cousin, E. C. Cox,¹ who is now living in Atlanta, Ga., where Uncle John has many relatives and friends. "Uncle John," as he is familiarly known,² still carries with pride a hickory stick that was cut from the tree under which he lay while wounded on the battle field.

Mr. Cox came to Texas in the early days and was for many years a resident of Smith county, Texas. He has lived in this, Nolan county, for the past ten years. He was appointed district clerk of the county in August, 1885, and county clerk in August, 1887, which position he has held with honor and credit ever since.

He was first married to a Miss Allen, by whom he has four boys and two girls, who are still living and secondly to a Miss Eugenia Barron, by whom he has one girl, a golden haired girl of 6 years.

The ball, which has caused him much suffering for several years, entered his body a little to the left of the median line of the sacrum, cutting its way through the rectum and striking the right pubic bone about center of its shaft, battering the front end of the ball and the large end turning downward and resting three-fourths of an inch to the left of the femoral artery and almost directly over the great saphenous vein.

The removal of the ball was a successful operation and the doctors entertain great hopes of his complete recovery. When the leaden chunk was removed, Uncle John remarked: "Now, more than ever, I am ready to make peace with the yankees." He is resting perfectly easy at this hour, chatting pleasantly as he enjoys his favorite pipe with the minie ball under his head in a little velvet bag made for the purpose by his joyous wife.

Dr. Archer, one of the attending physicians, is also an old Confederate surgeon, having enlisted and served as surgeon of the thirty-second Mississippi regiment. J. W. Germany, ex-county judge of this county, and also an old and honored member of company I, fortieth Mississippi, was present at the operation and was enthusiastic with old war stories.

 
Unknown printed source, Smith County, Texas, after 1894
 
 
 

BACK TO HIS FIRST LOVE

John C. Cox, formerly a citizen of this county, but recently of Sweetwater, Nolan county, arrived in Tyler yesterday with his whole family, having traveled the entire distance by private conveyance. John has always been a good citizen wherever he has lived. He has come back to stay, and we welcome him to Smith county, his former love, as a valuable acquisition. We do not believe he will ever be so indiscreet as to leave us again.

 
Unknown printed source, Smith County, Texas, after 1898
 
 
 

AN OLD SOLDIER

John C. Cox, the subject of these remarks, is justice of the peace for the Tyler precinct. He was born in Fayette County, Ga., Jan. 30th, 1836; he moved to Texas with his foster-father, J. D. Stell, in the fall of 1855, and settled in Smith county. Afterwards he moved to Leon county, and 1861 entered the Confederate States service, and served in the Army of Northern Virginia under Gen. Robt. E. Lee, Fifth Texas Regiment, Hood's Texas Brigade; was seriously wounded in the battle of Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga. He was married to Miss Sallie E. Allen, of Garden Valley, Texas, June 22nd, 1864, and has by his first wife, four sons and one daughter, now living. He married Miss Eugenia Barron in March 1885 and they have one daughter, Miss Sallie Maud Cox. Mr. Cox was elected justice of the peace of the Tyler precinct, and he has served in this position since 1898. He is a candidate for re-election. Judge Cox has endeared himself to our people, and he is loved and esteemed by all. It goes without saying that he is one of the best citizens who has ever resided in our county and town.