Autograph letter signed by Colonel Samuel "Sam" Vance Fulkerson (1822-1862). Winchester, [Virginia], 9 December 1861. 3 pages, 4to, 7 3/4 x 10 in., on blue paper. With original yellow envelope with Winchester postal stamp.

Significant letter that details a conflict between General Stonewall Jackson, who commanded the Valley District headquartered in Winchester, and General William Loring, who was in charge of a division under Jackson's command. The quarrel began when Jackson accused Loring of not moving his troops quickly enough to Winchester to launch an expedition to wrestle Romney, VA away from Union troops garrisoned there. Jackson was not tolerant of Loring's excuses for the delays in moving his troops despite the winter weather. The quarrel intensified after Romney was captured and occupied, with Loring complaining that Jackson had abused his men and was continuing to do so. That Loring's men were forced to weather the cold and wet conditions at Romney, while Jackson's men quartered in better conditions in Winchester, almost resulted in mutiny. Taking the lead among Loring's command to complain of his men's treatment under Jackson was Colonel S.V. Fulkerson.

In this letter, Colonel S.V. Fulkerson writes: "I was kept at Monterey about a week when General [William Wing] Loring ordered me to go to Staunton and to report to him there personally. He kept me there about a week. He and General [Thomas J. (Stonewall)] Jackson did not agree about my case. General Loring taking my side and General [Jackson] the other. General Loring referred the matter to the authorities at Richmond and kept me waiting for a decision. After a week's delay and hearing nothing from Richmond, General Loring released me from arrest and ordered me to join my regiment. Whether anything further will be done with the case, I do not know but I am of the opinion that it will not be noticed again." Interestingly, Fulkerson also writes about the nickname given to his regiment: "My regiment has the name of the "Foot Cavalry." We have marched over six hundred miles, having crossed the Alleghany Mountains six times." This is possibly one of the earliest written instances of the oxymoron applied to Jackson's troops who marched on foot but were still able to cover long distances.

Samuel Vance Fulkerson was raised in Grainger County, Tennessee, and enlisted as a private in Colonel McClelland's regiment during the Mexican War. Afterwards, he practiced law in Estillville (Gate City), Virginia and became involved in state and local politics. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was elected and commissioned colonel of the 37th Virginia Infantry Regiment. He commanded the regiment until 27 June 1862, when he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill while leading the 3rd Brigade in a charge against a strong Northern force positioned on the Chickahominy.

Later in the war, after his heroics at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, Stonewall Jackson wrote of him in a letter (not included here): "Col. S.V. Fuklerson was an officer of distinguished worth. I deeply felt his death. He rendered valuable service to his country, and had he lived, would probably have been recommended by me before this time for a brigadier generalcy."

Condition: some separations along old folds, interior of bifolium with tape repairs.

[Civil War, Confederate, Union, Generals, Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera]