1862 New Market Va May 8th Dear Ella You will please excuse me should I be brief in writing for we have marching orders & I cannot leave with- out writing you at least a few lines. refering from what our Lient Colonel Owens just told me that (confidentially) that we were to prepare for 12 days march. he informs me that we are to go to Richmond to rein- force McDowel. We are only all- owed 3 lbs baggage to be halled for us bur by the waggons. But I have put my old Grandmother of a carpetsack with his hands & he says he will take

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John Fuller's regiment participated in a number of actions in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in early 1862. The Union Army was consistently out-maneuvered by the Confederates. Their superior generalship kept Union units on the march for years before the Valley was subdued. Fuller refers to some of this when he says that his unit has been "dodging about."

Fuller was never able to take charge of the band as he hopes here. In late July, 1862, Congress passed a law disbanding almost all regiments' military bands because felt that too much money was spent on them. As a result, in August, 1862, both John and Francis Fuller were discharged from the Army.

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Civil War letter to Ella Melendy

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