Lucy Ann Cox (born either 1826 or 1827 â December 17, 1891) was a nurse and cook who served unofficially with the Virginia Infantry during the American Civil War. She was voted an honorary Confederate veteran after the war, a distinction conferred to few women in Civil War history.
Lucy Ann White was born between 1826 and 1827, the daughter of Lucinda Snellings White and Jesse White, publisher of the Fredericksburg Weekly Advertiser.
In January 1862, she married James A. Cox, a member of Company A of the 30th Virginia Infantry Regiment.
During the American Civil War, Cox sought to remain close to and support her husband during his service. At first, officers of James Cox's regiment strongly disapproved of his wife accompanying the troops, and ordered her to remain away from the camp. In response, Cox defiantly set up a ten on the outskirts of the camp. In time, her resourcefulness and usefulness to the group as a seamstress and nurse convinced the officers to make an exception and allow her in the camp on a permanent basis.
Cox became a vivandière, or "daughter of the regiment," unofficially joining the 30th Virginia Infantry Regiment and serving in a volunteer capacity as a cook, laundress, nurse to wounded soldiers, and helpmate for the men in Company A for four years. Her needles and thimble, which she likely used to knit socks and scarves for soldiers in the regiment, is now in the archives of the American Civil War Museum.
Cox was with the regiment during the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Petersburg, and remained a part of the regiment until the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox. She was widely known by the nom de guerre "Pawnee."
After the war, Cox and her husband returned to her parents' home in Fredericksburg to resume working in the printing trade.
In the 1880s, Cox and her husband attended reunions of the 30th Virginia Infantry Regiment.
Cox died in Fredericksburg on December 17, 1891, aged 64, after a period of illness.