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John Mercer Cotten was born in La Grange, Tenn., February 2, 1842, and enlisted in August, 1861, as a private in Company G, 7th Tennessee Regiment of Infantry. Just before the battle of Belmont he was discharged at Madrid, Tenn., on account of being sick with pneumonia. Upon his recovery he went to Jackson, Miss., and joined Company K, 7th Tennessee Cavalry, known as Jackson's Cavalry. He aided in covering the retreat of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston from Jackson to Atlanta. He was in the Dallas charge, the battle of Adairsville, New Hope Church, Morris Bridge, and in a number of smaller engagements up to the end. He surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., May 11, 1865, to Major General Canby, U. S. A. and his parole he had framed, and it hung on the wall of his room always.

Comrade Cotten was a member of Camp Wilcox, No. 1782, U. C. V., of Birmingham, Ala., where he died after a long and painful illness on December 31, 1915, and was laid to rest at Sewanee, Tenn., beside three children who had died some years before. He leaves a widow, a daughter, and a son. He was never seen without his cross of honor, which he valued beyond everything, and it was buried with him.