Greensborough Patriot
October 23, 1862
Page 2
Lt. Col. Fulton of Stokes
Through the
politeness of a friend, we are permitted to lay before our readers the
following interesting letter from Brig. Gen. Trimble, to the father of the
lamented Lt. Col. Fulton, of this State, who fell recently gallantly bearing
the flag of his regiment. Such a tribute
from the pen of his commander will be gratifying to his friends:
Front
Royal, Va., Oct. 1, 1862
Samuel Fulton, Stokes County, N. C.
Dear
Sir: The names of those who nobly die
for their country have ever lived in a people’s grateful memory. He who falls in battle, inscribes his name
upon the records of his country’s glory in characters which can never perish
while freedom lives.
Such
a man was Lieut. Fulton, of North Carolina.
At an early period he entered the army, and joined the 21st
North Carolina Regiment, in which, by promotion, he had obtained the rank of
Lt. Colonel.
His
regiment was attached to the brigade commanded by me, and, brought into every
action which took place in Northern Virginia, from the battle of Winchester on
the 28th of May, to that of Manassas on the 28th of
August—including all the actions near Richmond—that is to say in all Jackson’s
battles. I, therefore, who knew him
well, can speak from personal knowledge of his merits.
He
mingled in a remarkable degree, kindness and civility with discipline and
military duties. He was the favorite of
every soldier. His merits were exhibited
without pretension; and his courage, the chief element of his character, shown
without bravado, and always surpassed the expectations of his friends. In many charges against the enemy, the battle
flag was seen in his hands leading the regiment to victory. His death wounds were received while thus bearing
the colors in the charge at Manassas, on the 28th of August. He expired the next day with the same flag
waving over him, which he had borne in triumph against the foe.
I
have felt constrained my dear sir, to offer this tribute of respect to the virtues
and gallantry of your son, who I considered one of the most valuable officers
of my brigade, and whose honorable and gentlemanly deportment gained my warmest
esteem.
Accept,
sir, my sincere and deep sympathy in the distress you and your family must feel
for the loss of such a son. May this
testimony to his merits and manner of his death, assuage, in some degree, the
pangs of those who knew him and loved him well.
His
State should be proud of his name, and ever cherish his memory, and her sons
should now, and hereafter emulate his virtues and his patriotism.
I
write this from a sick bed, where I am suffering from a wound, or I would write
more at length.
I
am sir, respectfully your obedient servant,
I.
R. TRIMBLE
Brig.
Gen’l. 7th brigade
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]
