There are no restrictions.
There are no restrictions.
Fulkerson Family Papers, MS 0363, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.
The Fulkerson Family Papers were donated to the Virginia Military Institute Archives in 1996 by Jane Davis Copenhaver, William R. Davis, and James G. Davis.
Selected items from this collection (Civil War
documents) are available in full-text format on the VMI
Archives website at:
The papers were formerly in the possession of the donors' grandfather and father. James Livingston Davis, the grandfather, was a lawyer in Bristol, Virginia, who came into possession of the papers in January 1903, shortly after the death of Abram Fulkerson. Subsequently, James's son, Judge Robert Bolton Davis, held the papers until his death in 1979. His heirs donated the papers to VMI.
The papers consist of correspondence and other material relating to three members of the Fulkerson family: Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1822-1862); his brother, Abram Fulkerson, Jr. (1834-1902); and Abram"s son, Samuel Vance Fulkerson (1863-1926).
Significant items are Civil War letters (March-May 1862) written by Samuel V. Fulkerson; Samuel's reports of the Battle of McDowell and the Battle of Winchester, May and June 1862; 3 wartime letters (1863; 1865) written by Samuel's brother Abram Fulkerson, two of which were written while he was a prisoner of war; and a letter of appreciation, September 1862, written by Gen. Stonewall Jackson following Samuel's death in battle. In addition to the battles mentioned above, topics include the Battles of Port Republic and Kernstown; death of Turner Ashby; refugee and civilian life; camp life; many references to Stonewall Jackson, including Samuel's assessment of his character and Abram's reflections following the General's death.
Also included are biographical and genealogical material; business and financial papers of Samuel V. Fulkerson (VMI Class of 1884), Abram's son; and miscellaneous family correspondence.
Written from Estillville, Scott County,
Virginia.
Topics:
sister Kate on her way to Tazewell to teach
school; reports on his trip to Iowa; talks of
Abram's first days at the Virginia Military
Institute and encourages him to study- "you now
have a chance of getting a better education and of
doing more for yourself than any of your brothers
have ever had an opportunity of getting or doing
for themselves, and if you do not turn you chance
to good advantage it will be your own fault."
Written from Jonesville, Lee Co., Virginia.
Topics include Abram's progress at school
(VMI); family news.
Written from Jonesville, Lee Co., VA.
Topics:
VMI examinations and grades; warns him about
excessive number of demerits; cautions about
leaving school- "I do not like to hear you
expressing a desire to resign. You know that a
great part of your expense is paid by the state,
and that you have undertaken to teach two years in
the state as a sort of recompense. You will not
forget this obligation."; family news.
Written from Jonesville, Lee Co., VA.
Topics:
School finances; complains about his "unkind
conduct."
Written from Jeffersonville.
Topics:
his recent trip; family news.
Written from Winchester, VA.
Topics:
War news; concerned about family- "In a
letter from Col. Gibson he asked what I wished you
and Kate to do in case the enemy got into our
county. If they should get in, and you are willing
to do so, I think that you had better remain at
home. Refugees have a hard time, and when people
leave their homes everything is destroyed. Mr.
Faulkner (Honl. Charles J.) told me that his wife
had saved his property by staying at home. But if
it should come to the worst, and you prefer it,
leave and let the property go. I care little for
the property except on yours and Kate's account.
For myself I feel that I have no home so long as
it is threatened by the enemy, and I would
willingly give up all I have, and commence the
world anew without a thing, rather than that the
enemy should subjugate us."
Written from Camp near New Market, VA.
Topics:
Battle of Kernstown. "The [people along the
valley] claim our fight as a victory, but it is
not so. We attacked a greatly superior forces and
were repulsed with heavy loss. If night had not
set in we would all have been captured or killed.
The enemy's loss was very heavy, for our men
fought with desperate courage."
Fulkerson's report after the Battle of McDowell, discussing the participation of his regiment (37th Virginia).
Fulkerson's report after the Battle of Winchester, discussing the participation of his regiment (37th Virginia).
Typescript copy. Discusses the character of General Stonewall Jackson.
Extends condolences after the death of Col. Fulkerson.
Appointment to the VMI Board of Visitors (1853) and to judgeship (1857).
Regarding the death of General Stonewall Jackson.
From Ft. Delaware Prison; regarding end of war and defeat of south.
From Prison at Ft. Delaware. "I cannot express my gratification at learning that you were all well, and living. The terrible events which have transpired in the Confederacy within the past two months, and my great anxiety about you, taken together, had rendered me very unhappy, indeed wretched."
Largely misc. financial and business papers; genealogical information also included.
Three items. 1835 October 24, Margaret Fulkerson to Mrs. Jane Preston. 1847 July 24, J. S. Bradley to his cousin Harriet Fulkerson. 1848 Feb 27, Dolly Bradley to Harriet Fulkerson.