John W. Fuller
Encyclopedia
John Wallace Fuller was a British
-born American
publisher, businessman, and soldier. He served as a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. After the war Fuller engaged in the wholesale footwear
trade as well as in civil affairs in Ohio
.
, located in the English
county of Cambridgeshire
. His father was a minister of the Baptist
faith and also a graduate of Bristol College
in England, and was responsible for much of Fuller's primary education. In 1833 Fuller relocated with the family to Oneida County, New York
. There the rest of his education came from reading in a bookstore in Utica
, and starting in 1841 Fuller began working there.
By 1852 Fuller owned and operated a publishing business in Utica, and later was the city's treasurer. He was also active in the New York
State Militia
, serving as an officer. In 1853 Fuller married Anna B. Rathbun, also a resident of Utica. The couple would have six children together; three sons named Edward, Rathbun, and Frederick, and three daughters named Florence (later married to Thomas A. Taylor), Jennie, and Irene. In 1858 Fuller's business was destroyed by a fire, and he moved to Toledo, Ohio
, where he again began operating a book publishing firm.
. He was ordered to train soldiers in Grafton, Virginia
, which is in modern-day Taylor County, West Virginia
. He also briefly served on the staff of Brig. Gen. Charles W. Hill. On August 18 Fuller was given command of the 27th Ohio Infantry
with the rank of colonel
. Fuller and the 27th first served in Missouri under Brig. Gens. John Pope
and David Hunter
. He and his command then participated in Pope's efforts at New Madrid
on March 14, and then the Battle of Island Number Ten
from February 28 to April 8, 1862.
In the fall of 1862 Fuller was given brigade
command in the Army of the Mississippi
. He led it in Mississippi during the Battle of Iuka
on September 19, and the Second Battle of Corinth
on October 3–4. On December 31 his command fought at Battle of Parker's Cross Roads
in Tennessee. During the battle, Fuller's brigade approached undetected and got behind Confederate
Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
's position. Left with no choice but to attack the Federal forces in his front and rear, Forrest had his men charge and repel Fuller's command, and then quickly reverse and move past and through the rest of the Union soldiers. Fuller and the other Federal units managed to capture six pieces of artillery, about 300 prisoners, and 350 horses, but Forrest's scattered men were able to escape and recrossed the Tennessee River
four days later.
Fuller spent most 1863 on garrison
duty within the Army of the Tennessee
, and was promoted to brigadier general
on January 5, 1864.
In March 1864 Fuller led his command across the Tennessee River and captured the city of Decatur, Alabama
. He participated in the Atlanta Campaign
that summer, and temporarily lead a division
during the Battle of Atlanta
on July 22. He again led his brigade during the March to the Sea
in late 1864, and in the Carolinas Campaign
of 1865. Fuller was brevetted
to the rank of major general
in the Union Army on March 13, and after the end of the war he resigned that fall.
Fuller was one of the few generals in the Civil War who was not born in the United States.
Fuller resigned from the Union Army on August 15, 1865, and returned to his civilian life in Ohio. He was the senior partner of the firm Fuller, Childs & Company in Toledo, a business dealing in the wholesale of boots and shoes. In 1874 Fuller was appointed the collector of customs for Toledo, a post he held until 1881.
On October 3–4, 1878, the members of the "Ohio Brigade" held a reunion at Columbus, Ohio
, in which Fuller attended and made a speech. During the event a permanent organization was created for future reunions, with Fuller as its first president. In 1888 he retired from his business concerns.
Fuller was in Toledo when he died in 1891, and was buried in the city's Woodlawn Cemetery.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher, businessman, and soldier. He served as a general in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After the war Fuller engaged in the wholesale footwear
Footwear
Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
trade as well as in civil affairs in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Early life and career
John W. Fuller was born in the village of HarstonHarston
Harston is a village to the south of Cambridge, England.-Harston House:Harston House is a historic private house in Harston. It was formerly known as Harston Hall....
, located in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. His father was a minister of the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
faith and also a graduate of Bristol College
Bristol College
Bristol College may refer to:* City of Bristol College, Bristol, UK* Bristol College, Pennsylvania, an Episcopal college active between 1833 and 1837* University College, Bristol* Trinity College, Bristol* Wesley College, Bristol...
in England, and was responsible for much of Fuller's primary education. In 1833 Fuller relocated with the family to Oneida County, New York
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
. There the rest of his education came from reading in a bookstore in Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, and starting in 1841 Fuller began working there.
By 1852 Fuller owned and operated a publishing business in Utica, and later was the city's treasurer. He was also active in the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, serving as an officer. In 1853 Fuller married Anna B. Rathbun, also a resident of Utica. The couple would have six children together; three sons named Edward, Rathbun, and Frederick, and three daughters named Florence (later married to Thomas A. Taylor), Jennie, and Irene. In 1858 Fuller's business was destroyed by a fire, and he moved to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, where he again began operating a book publishing firm.
Civil War service
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Fuller chose to follow his home state and the Union causeUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
. He was ordered to train soldiers in Grafton, Virginia
Grafton, West Virginia
Grafton is a city in, and county seat of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,489 at the 2000 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's...
, which is in modern-day Taylor County, West Virginia
Taylor County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,089 people, 6,320 households, and 4,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 93 people per square mile . There were 7,125 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
. He also briefly served on the staff of Brig. Gen. Charles W. Hill. On August 18 Fuller was given command of the 27th Ohio Infantry
27th Ohio Infantry
The 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 27th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio July 15 through August 18, 1861 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel John Wallace...
with the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. Fuller and the 27th first served in Missouri under Brig. Gens. John Pope
John Pope (military officer)
John Pope was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He had a brief but successful career in the Western Theater, but he is best known for his defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run in the East.Pope was a graduate of the United States Military Academy in...
and David Hunter
David Hunter
David Hunter was a Union general in the American Civil War. He achieved fame by his unauthorized 1862 order emancipating slaves in three Southern states and as the president of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.-Early...
. He and his command then participated in Pope's efforts at New Madrid
New Madrid, Missouri
New Madrid is a city in New Madrid County, Missouri, 42 miles south by west of Cairo, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. New Madrid was founded in 1788 by American frontiersmen. In 1900, 1,489 people lived in New Madrid, Missouri; in 1910, the population was 1,882. The population was 3,334 at...
on March 14, and then the Battle of Island Number Ten
Battle of Island Number Ten
The Battle of Island Number Ten was an engagement at the New Madrid or Kentucky Bend on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War, lasting from February 28 to April 8, 1862. The position, an island at the base of a tight double turn in the course of the river, was held by the Confederates...
from February 28 to April 8, 1862.
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
command in the Army of the Mississippi
Army of the Mississippi
Army of the Mississippi was the name given to two Union armies that operated around the Mississippi River, both with short existences, during the American Civil War.-1862:...
. He led it in Mississippi during the Battle of Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
on September 19, and the Second Battle of Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
The Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
on October 3–4. On December 31 his command fought at Battle of Parker's Cross Roads
Battle of Parker's Cross Roads
The Battle of Parker's Cross Roads was fought on December 31, 1862, in Henderson County, Tennessee, during the American Civil War.-Background:...
in Tennessee. During the battle, Fuller's brigade approached undetected and got behind Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
's position. Left with no choice but to attack the Federal forces in his front and rear, Forrest had his men charge and repel Fuller's command, and then quickly reverse and move past and through the rest of the Union soldiers. Fuller and the other Federal units managed to capture six pieces of artillery, about 300 prisoners, and 350 horses, but Forrest's scattered men were able to escape and recrossed the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
four days later.
Fuller spent most 1863 on garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
duty within the Army of the Tennessee
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
, and was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
on January 5, 1864.
In March 1864 Fuller led his command across the Tennessee River and captured the city of Decatur, Alabama
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
. He participated in the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
that summer, and temporarily lead a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
during the Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply center of Atlanta, Union forces commanded by William T. Sherman overwhelmed...
on July 22. He again led his brigade during the March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
in late 1864, and in the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
of 1865. Fuller was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
to the rank of major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the Union Army on March 13, and after the end of the war he resigned that fall.
Fuller was one of the few generals in the Civil War who was not born in the United States.
Postbellum
On October 3–4, 1878, the members of the "Ohio Brigade" held a reunion at Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, in which Fuller attended and made a speech. During the event a permanent organization was created for future reunions, with Fuller as its first president. In 1888 he retired from his business concerns.
Fuller was in Toledo when he died in 1891, and was buried in the city's Woodlawn Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals