Wilcox, Cadmus Marcellus

Wilcox, Cadmus Marcellus (1824–1890) Confederate army officer. Born in Wayne County, North Carolina, Cadmus Wilcox graduated from West Point in 1846 and reached Mexico just in time for the Battle of Monterrey. He then joined the march on the Mexican capital, distinguishing himself several times in the battles around the city. After the war he served in routine frontier assignments and as an instructor at West Point, where he wrote the first American rifle manual. He resigned from the army in 1861 and took a commission as the colonel of the 9th Alabama Infantry. He served with the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the war. He performed very well at Frayser's Farm (1862), and commanded three brigades at Second Bull Run (1862). He rendered important service at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg (both 1863), including taking part in Pickett's Charge. In 1864 he was promoted to major general and given his own division, which he commanded from May 1864 until the end of the war. After the Confederate surrender he went to Mexico, but he soon returned to settle in Washington, D.C., where he eventually died.