Mordecai Michael Cox enlisted and mustered into Company A of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV as a Sergeant on December 22, 1863, for a period of 3 years. He was enrolled by Lieutenant Jerome Hinds and was mustered in February 6, 1864, in Memphis, Tennessee. The Muster and Descriptive Roll recorded him as being 26 years of age, 5'-11" tall, having a fair complexion, gray eyes, light hair, was born in Habersham County, Georgia, and was a farmer by occupation. He was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant on February 5, 1864. The March and April 1864 Muster Roll listed him as a Quartermaster Sergeant, and showed him to have been absent, on recruiting service in Alabama since April 17, 1864. He was still on recruiting service with Major Shurtleff through February 1865. The March and April 1865 Muster Roll showed him to be absent, on detached service with Major Shurtleff at Decatur, Alabama. The July and August 1865 Muster Roll showed him to be present. He was mustered out October 20, 1865, in Huntsville, Alabama, owing the U.S. Government $17.65 for losing 1 pistol and belt. He was paid a bounty of $180 and due $120 to make up the $300 bounty he was due. Mordecai M. Cox was able to sign his name on his Enlistment Forms.
Sergeant Mordecai Michael Cox, Sr. was born January 12, 1837, in Habersham County, Georgia, and married Nancy Emmaline Dodd, daughter of Michael and Mary Wright Dodd, on December 2, 1858. Nancy was born June 11, 1841, in Winston County, Alabama, and died March 11, 1926, in Marion County, Alabama. Mordecai M. Cox died May 2, 1923, in Marion County, Alabama, and is buried in the Thorn Hill Church of Christ Cemetery in Marion County, Alabama.

Children of Mordecai and Nancy were: Emily Lucille; Rufus Napoleon; Nancy Mariah; Mordecai Michael, Jr.; Theodore S.; Petronelie Annah; and Julias Benton Cox. They may have had other children.
Taken from Volume I of "Unionists in the Heart of Dixie", written by Glenda McWhirter Todd.