Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Sadly, Private Henry H. Fulton, after surviving three long years of war (including surviving a horrific train wreck), met a tragic fate while foraging in the North Carolina countryside at Pine Level, a small village near Raleigh on April 10, 1865. He along with several others was captured by ruthless Southern guerrillas. After a short captivity the men were marched out to be shot. One man escaped to tell their story, but that man was not Henry Fulton. Henry died as result of gun shot wounds he received at Raleigh on April 12, 1865 and is buried somewhere near that city. Included here are four letters which help tell his tragic story. The first three letters presented here were written by a certain W. R. Newton, seemingly a man on a mission to find Henry's remains. All these letters are addressed to Henry's father, Robert Fulton and read, in part: "…U. S. Hotel, Columbus, Ohio, May 15, 1865, 1p. 4to.]…there was no telegram for me consequently I went to the Gov't. Office and got an order for transportation to Washington City and will leave tomorrow morning at 4. I can find nothing definite about the 68 Ohio Regt. The Govt. clerk thought it was raised in the north western part of the state. He gave me the names of Ebenezer Peters, Wilmington, N. C. and…who would assist me. I hope I may be successful…W. R. Newton…[Washington, D. C., May 19, 1865, 4pp. 8vo.]…I went over to Alexandria and found the 17th Corps coming a few miles out. I…met them about the time they were going Raleigh to encamp. I saw Tom Liggtt, Elden McNorland, Havre Simens & some more of the boys from our section. I learned the name-Joshua Dicus, Co. C, 68th O. Vols.-who was with Henry when shot. He was sent from RaleighRaleigh to Gen. Hospital, Newburn, N. C. I saw his brother who belongs to the same Regt. He reports Joshua not very badly wounded and expects to see him with the Regt. in a few days…probably he has been sent to a hospital in New York. By conversing with the officers and men I learned that Henry with 4 other others were detailed to go out foraging-volunteering for that purpose and were regularly armed and mounted-Henry on a mule. After they had gone a few miles two of the number returned to camp. Henry & two others went on and were captured some 6 or 8 miles from the lines. It is not known whether the me who took them were Rebel soldiers, guerrillas or citizens. They were mounted & had pistols…they were marched out by the rebels to shoot them. Dicus seen the pistols cocked and kept looking back & [was] partly turned round when they shoo. [He] receiving the ball in the shoulder. He started to run but stepped in a ditch about 30 ft off & fell. The rebels firing about that time. The balls missing him. He then run a short distance further when his foot caught in some brush and threw him. They again having fired at him, but he escaped. He heard one of them when shot cry out in pain and thought it was Henry's voice. The officers have no hope that he is living. Henry was clerking for Capt. P. W. Spellman, Co. F, 20th Ill. & A. A. Q. M. He is a fine fellow and thought a great deal of Henry…he asked for a detail to go back to find the body and retaliate by devastating the country. The Gen. would not grant it then as they were in a hurry to reach RaleighRaleigh, but promised to send them back afterwards, but it was neglected…W. R. Newton…[Washington, May 21, 1865, 4pp. 8vo.]…today I saw Dicus-brother of the one that was with Henry. He gave me the name of his father-Bergess Dicus, Defiance O. and I have just sent a telegram ot him requesting to let me know where Joshua Dicus is…I saw a soldier who left New Bern the same day Joshua Dicus did-the 7th May. He said Joshua was sent to Morehead City and from there the surgeon said he would be sent to New York…I will write to his father…explaining more fully why I what to find him. I have been to the medical director…at Alexandria…but can find no trace of him…I have not seen Lieut. Thomas but he can give no information more than I have got. The boys of the 68th think it was the citizens who shot them as they were only armed with pistols. The boys think it will be impossible to find Henry unless Joshua Dicus can go along with me. The R. Road is reported open from Newburn to Raleigh and guarded. Col. Willard Warner commands the 180th O. Vols at Raleigh. The 23rd Corps is left there to guard the road. If I knew the spot I could go right there but they all think I could not find it without Dicus. I understand they were marched about half a mile from the house and shot. If I had the spot described to me and no graves or dead near I might find them…W. R. Newton." All of Newton's letter included its original stamped transmittal cover. Finally, there is an official United States military document, 1p. 4to., written on "Headquarters Department of North Carolina, Army of the Ohio" stationery, Raleigh, N. C., June 3, 1865, in part: "Permission is hereby given Mr. Robert Fulton to search for the grave of his son, reported to have been killed near Goldsboro, N. C. on the 12th April last. The commanding officers at Smithfield will render him every assistance in men and horses to enable him to discover the grave, but must not be disinterred. The Quartermaster's Department will furnish Mr. Fulton transportation to his home by rail and on Government transports. Signed and made official by Major General John M. Schofield's Assistant Adjutant General, Lt. Col. James A. Campbell. Also included are four war-date letters (one partial) written by Henry while in service with the 20th Ohio while at Vicksburg and Camp Chase, Ohio. Routine military content graces these letters which are dated between December 1863 and March 1864. The complete letter include their original stamped transmittal covers. Overall condition is very good to near fine.
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