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Civil War Soldier's Letters by Colonel John S. Fulton, 44th Tennessee Infantry, with Siege of Knoxville and Battle of Spotsylv...
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Description
Civil War Soldier's Letters by Colonel John S. Fulton, 44th Tennessee Infantry, with Siege of Knoxville and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Content. An archive of fourteen letters dated August 27, 1863 to December 22, 1864, three original transmittal covers, and one Confederate States of America military appointment dated August 6, 1863. Four letters are written by Fulton, one of which is endorsed by Confederate General Benjamin F. Cheatham, and four are addressed to Fulton. The remaining six are written to and from various family members and fellow soldiers who fought with Fulton. Documents are written in pencil and ink and measure from 4.87" x 2.5" to 7.12" x 11.5". Fulton mustered in on April 18, 1862 and died in battle in July 1864.The 44th Tennessee Infantry served as part of the famed Johnson's Brigade throughout the majority of the Civil War. During their time with General B.R. Johnson, the men fought in a number of notable battles including Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Drewry's Bluff. At the Siege of Petersburg, the 44th was active in the trenches on the north side of the James River. Surviving members of the brigade were present for Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.
This lot opens with a grim letter from John reporting on his brother's recent death. On October 9, 1863, he wrote, in part, "Bob was wounded on Sunday evening the 20th of Sept through the left arm by a Minnie ball about half way between the elbow and shoulder. It was only a flesh wound and was not considered dangerous but slight. He remained on the ground where he was wounded or near there until about 2 o'clock Thursday when he was found and taken by Dr. John Ganuway, the former Surgeon of my regiment to my regiment hospital, where he was well treated and cared for and could be done under the circumstances. I visited him soon after he was carried to the hospital...When I left him I thought surely he would in one or two days go off, I left Mr. Sullivan to see to him. In a day or so I learned that he had not gone but was worse. I immediately procured a permit and went to see him. This was on the 2nd of this month. As soon as I saw him I was satisfied that he could not live and immediately dispatched Mr. Sullivan for you. The nerves of Bob's arm had been cut or torn as the Surgeon stated, this together with his bad health prior and at the time of his recovery the wound caused him to take tetnus [sic] or lock jaw. He was pretty bad off with it when I saw him early in the morning of the 2nd instant. He recognized me at once as I approached him, told me he was very bad off, and that he hoped to God that he would recover. I told him he was very sick but that I did not intend to spare any effort to procure his recovery. The day before he had been pretty much under the influence of chloroform. After remaining with him some hours or two his spasms and jerks began to increase in violence and I soon saw that he could not last long... When the Surgeon decided to let him pass from under the influence of chloroform, he was (so soon as from under it influenced) taken with a violent spasm and died in a few minutes."
Two months later, Fulton's fortunes had not improved. Instead, he found himself retreating from the failed Siege of Knoxville after witnessing heavy Confederate casualties. On December 17, 1863, he wrote, in part, "We have been on the march pretty much all the time we have been in East Tennessee. We would have undoubtedly captured the whole of Burnside's army, if Braggs had not have fallen back from Chattanooga. At least, this is the reason assigned by the army in this section for our leaving Knoxville. We had Knoxville besieged and the forces of Burnside's in it were on very short rations, but as stated we had to leave on account of Braggs falling back. We attempted to take Fort Loudon at the edge of Knoxville on the morning of the 29th November but failed. It is one of the strongest forts I ever saw. I think Gen Longstreet acted rather rashly in attacking the fort. We lost some 150 men killed & some several hundred wounded. It was a very fatal bitter fight...We, in a few days, raised the siege of Knoxville and started towards Briscoe and reached Rogersville where we remained a few days, then we started back towards Knoxville & reached here after having a pretty severe engagement at this place losing some sixty men out of this (Johnson's Brigade) which I commanded in the fight. I have been commanding for more than a month. I expect we will stay here some several days owing to the fact that our Brigade is nearly all shoeless and naked. We have lost a good many from this Brigade by desertion. I wish every deserter was dead and in the infernal regions."
Union General Ambrose Burnside had occupied East Tennessee since August 1863, having found support from the region's largely pro-Union population. In November, Confederate General Braxton Bragg ordered General James Longstreet to retake the city. However, inaccurate maps and tight defenses prevented Confederates from making progress, ultimately getting pushed back by relatively green Union troops on November 27. Two days later, Longstreet ordered an assault on Fort Sanders, erroneously labeled as Fort Loudon in Fulton's letter. The engagement was a massive rebel failure. Whereas Union casualties amounted to approximately fifty, Confederate deaths, injuries, and captures added up to a total of 813 casualties. Fulton's statement corroborates these numbers and highlights the extremely low morale that resulted from the losses.
On April 28, 1864, Confederate Major General William B. Tate wrote to Fulton in an attempt to boost his mood. His letter focused on the possibility of recapturing Tennessee, writing, in part, "Our army is in 'fine feather' trimmed & heeled for a fight that will redeem Tennessee. It is the 'promise land,' now in sackcloth & ashes, 'mourning for her children because they are not.' Before the summer solstice, we must strike the shackles from her festering limbs...amid the shouts and gratulations of her widows & orphans. If we should redeem her, & we will - what should become of the 'amnesty'-ites, the weak-kneed & chickenhearted, the pansees [sic], the hipocrits [sic]? I think Longstreet & Johnston if possible should have united about first of April & gone in. It seemed feasible."
Fulton continued to experience loss after loss. On May 29, 1864, the colonel wrote to his brother, describing the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. He wrote, in part, "I stated to you in that letter that our brigade was engaged in a severe fight on the 16th instant and that my Major was killed and Col M Erwin was severely wounded. Since then even M Erwin has departed this life. He died in the hospital at Richmond on the 27th of this month. He was a most excellent officer a more devoted patriot I never knew. He had the good of the country always before him. I never knew a more indefatigable man in the discharge of his duties. I have no officer in my regiment that can fill his shoes. His death leaves our Brigade without a Lieutenant Col, all being killed in the fight of the 16th instant... Our Brigade is so very small it suffered terrible in the fight before mentioned. As I before stated to you in my letter nearly one half of our Brigade was killed wounded and taken prisoners. I was not in the fight having been wounded in the foot on the 14 instant. I will soon be able for duty again. Johnson has been promoted. He now commands a very fine division."
A month later, Fulton was shot and killed. On July 18, 1864, Fulton's brother Alfred acknowledged the news of the colonel's death, writing in part, "Your dispatch of the 8th inst. Conveying the painful intelligence of the death of my brother John did not reach me until the 14th inst. My reply was forwarded to Selma Ala. On the 15th...your dispatch was the first intelligence of the sad event. Many bright anticipations of 'that day when smiling peace would welcome' the soldier's return have been rudely destroyed. Many fond hopes long cherished have been suddenly swept from us forever."
In addition to these letters, this collection includes missives from several members of Fulton's brigade. One from Captain James R. Bright broke the news of John's death to his sister, identified only as Mrs. E.J. Rogers. Two others are from Adjutant Robert G. Cross regarding Fulton's accounts and personal effects. Finally, Fulton's appointment to Colonel, dated August 6, 1863.
Condition: Creasing along folds for all documents. Minor separations along creases, occasionally affecting text. Heavy toning to seven letters. Intermittent minor staining throughout, occasionally affecting text. July 20, 1864 letter has a portion of the integral page missing, affecting text.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
Thursday
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