Columbus State University Archives and Special Collections

James A. Fuller Letters

Identifier

MC 407

Title

James A. Fuller Letters

Description

Mail correspondence of James Aaron Fuller, a Private in the Confederate Army, to his wife and family over the course of and briefly after his service in the American Civil War.

Date

June 24, 1862-November 18, 1865

Creator

James Aaron Fuller

Extent

20 letters

Format

Scans of letters in .jpg format

Language

English

Medium

Letters

Coverage

American Civil War

Collection Items

Letters from Fuller to Wife, Hanover County, Virginia, June 24-26, 1862
On June 24, Fuller writes to his wife Amanda that he hears cannons in the direction of Hanover Courthouse, to the left of Richmond, Virginia. He sends a two-dollar bill home.
On June 26, Fuller reports how he left Richmond with the army on the 24th,…

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Orange County, Virginia, July 27, 1862
Fuller expresses how badly he wishes to come home to his wife. He thinks that his captain is not fit for the office. He has been marching in the rain, and scavenged a coat and blanket from abandoned Union supplies. He closes by conveying his hope…

Letter from Fuller, July 30, 1862
This letter is mostly illegible.

Letter from Fuller, August 8, 1862
This letter is mostly illegible.

It is useful to note that the Battle of Cedar Run takes place on August 8th and the Battle of Richmond on August 29-30.

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Frederick County, Virginia, October 4, 1862
Fuller explains to his wife that he is of poor health, but it is improving. His company are in "tolerable" health, several have been wounded, but none killed. He believes that the Union may fight for years to come and never subdue the South.

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Augusta County, Virginia, October 22, 1862
Fuller writes that he is in tolerable health. He expects a furlough, like the other soldiers in the hospital, in a few days. He wishes to come home to see his wife Amanda, who he has not seen in at least a year. He hopes that the war will be over…

Letter from Fuller to his Mother and Father, Staunton, Virginia General Hospital, October 25, 1862
Fuller writes that he will not be receiving a furlough because he is expected to be able for duty in 60 days. He has heard the Army is at Bunker's Hill, twelve miles below Winchester, Virginia, and are "expecting a fight."
He tells his brother to…

Letter From Fuller to Wife, Shenandoah County, Virginia, November 24, 1862
Fuller was discharged from the hospital and started towards Winchester. He heard news that the Confederate Army are moving over the Blue Ridge Mountains towards Gordonsville, Virginia. Stonewall Jackson is camped in a town called Mount Jackson.
He…

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Shenandoah County, Virginia, November 26, 1862
(This is a backup letter Fuller wrote to his wife in the event that his November 24 was lost)
The house of the Dutch family Fuller is staying with is two miles from New Market, Virginia.
Stonewall Jackson has crossed the Blue Ridge towards…

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Clark County, Virginia, February 20, 1863
Now in camp, Fuller has more work to do than "four hands could have done."
On the 13th, Fuller and his regiment left Culpeper, Virginia to the Cedar Run battlefield so soldiers could see the remains of their friends.
(Fuller's description of the…

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Fredericksburg, Virginia, August 14, 1863
Fuller is one mile below Fredricksburg and his regiment is destroying the breastwork left by the Union army while the Confederate Army was in Suffolk during the winter.
He sends $100 home to his wife and asks her to write back, as he hasn't received…

Letter from Fuller to Wife and Child, Polage Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina, September 19, 1863
Fuller is sick with fever. On the regiment's march from Virginia to Atlanta, Georgia, Fuller took ill and stopped in Columbia. He is trying to get a furlough.

Letter from Fuller to Wife and Sister, Near Bull's Gap, Tennessee, March 3, 1864
The Confederate government, by next month, will owe Fuller $200 in back wages. They don't intend to pay their soldiers until the new currency is issued.
He asks is his son, Willey, can talk yet.

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Hain's Gap, Tennessee, March 25, 1864
Companies J, K, and R are on picket at a mountain in Haen's Gap, Tennessee, to watch for the Union's advance. His brigade has been transferred to Bushrod Johnson's command.
General Buckner is commanding one division of Johnson's corps.
"Hood's old…

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, May 23, 1864
Fuller is sick with Typhoid and Pneumonia. He fell ill on May 6, and is on the mend. He is staying at a private house between Orange Courthouse and Fredricksburg, 15 miles from Orange Courthouse. He hopes to get to a hospital so that he may get a…

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, June 28, 1864
Fuller is still ill, and has been this way for a month and twenty-four days with the lady of the house, who is taking care of him. He thinks he is almost over it.

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Camps Hospital, Augusta, Georgia, December 5, 1864
Fuller was released from a hospital in Augusta a week ago. He is waiting for a Union attack, but is under the impression that they are making their way towards Savannah or somewhere else on the coast.

Letter from Fuller to Wife, Savannah General Hospital, Savannah, Georgia, December 18, 1864
Fuller is suffering from a bad cold and staying in the Savannah, Georgia General Hospital.

Letter from Ellen Whiteside, November 15, 1865
It is a letter to Fuller from Ellen Whiteside, who calls Fuller a friend. It is after the war, and contains personal details of Fuller.
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