The Texas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Quartermaster Duties
In Response To: 18th Tx. Cav. Co. E ()

Sandra --

In Mid-January of 1862, Marion Cox joined Captain W. H. Witt's Company "E", 18th Texas Cavalry Regiment. Witt's Company soon left the regiment to serve independently. Up until the summer of 1863, companies of Captains Witt and John Scanland operated together as Scanland's Texas Squadron. In July 1863 Scanland's and Gillett's Squadrons and Capt. John Miller's Texas Cavalry Company organized as Wells' Texas Cavalry Battlion.

In addition to the 18th Texas Cavalry, Marion Cox is listed with both Wells' Texas Cavalry Battalion and Wells' Texas Cavalry Regiment. He's indexed as 'Manvin' Cox in the latter command.

During 1862 and 1863 Marion Cox served under orders of the quartermaster at Bonham TX, Major A. S. Cabell. Quartermasters were responsible for supplies, equipment, uniforms, construction, transportation and payments. Supplies included everything from paper forms to skillets to lumber used in building temporary housing. Duties included purchasing and acquisition, warehousing and inventory, issuing and assignments. Quartermasters often used hired men for labor while detailed soldiers like Cox frequently worked as clerks.

If your Marion Cox lived in Canton TX (Van Zandt Co.), his name appears on the IRS assessments of 1866 as a manufacturer. Such a man would have been useful in the quartermaster department, as the military sometimes took over operations of manufactories and mines needed to produce supplies and equipment.

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18th Tx. Cav. Co. E
Re: Quartermaster Duties
Re: Quartermaster Duties
Re: Quartermaster Duties