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Virginia Military Institute Archives
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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: http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=5169
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.
Samuel Vance Fulkerson, a son of Col. Abram Fulkerson, Sr. and Margaret Vance, was born in Washington County, Virginia on October 21, 1822. As a young man he undertook the study of law, and in late 1846 he obtained his license and opened a practice in southwestern Virginia. Samuel served in the United States Army during the Mexican War (1847-1848), and subsequently returned to the practice of law in Estillville and Abingdon, Virginia. In 1857 he was elected judge of the thirteenth judicial district and held this position until the beginning of the Civil War. He was a member of the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors from 1852-1854 and from 1857-1858. During the war, he served as Colonel of the 37th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Samuel was killed in the Battle of Gaines's Mill on June 26, 1862; survivors included siblings (he did not marry).
Abram Fulkerson, Jr., younger brother of Samuel V. Fulkerson, was born May 13, 1834 in Washington County, Virginia. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1857, and after a brief career as a teacher went on to study law. During the Civil War he served as Colonel of the 63rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment and was a prisoner of war (one of the "Immortal 600"). After the war he continued the practice of law and was active in politics, serving in the Virginia legislature and in the United States Congress. He married Selina Johnson, of Clarksville, Tennessee, in 1862; they had nine children, including Samuel Vance Fulkerson, VMI Class of 1884. Abram Fulkerson died at Bristol, Virginia on December 17, 1902.
Samuel Vance Fulkerson , the son of Abram Fulkerson, Jr. and Selina Johnson, was born at Abingdon, Virginia on October 22, 1863. He graduated from VMI in 1884 and subsequently studied law at the University of Virginia. He was a lawyer (partner in the firm of Fulkerson and Davis in Bristol, VA) and served two terms as City Attorney. During the Spanish-American War (1898- 1899) he was a member of the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, U.S. Volunteers. Samuel married Lura Bradley of Sherman, Texas in 1904; they had twin sons, born April 1906. He died July 2, 1926 at Virginia Beach, VA; he is buried at East Hill Cemetery, Bristol, VA.
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.