Married Timanza Cox 22 Feb 1854 at Lawrence County, Indiana and together were parents to:
- Nancy Jane [1855-1934]
- Hugh [1857-1910]
- Mariah Ann [1859-1932]
- Sarah Adeline [1868-1910]

William H. Fulton died at his home in Ash Valley on Thursday of last week and was buried Friday in the Ash Valley cemetery. The direct cause of death was a complication of disorders contracted in the army, he having been a soldier. During the rebellion he served for three years in company F, 81st Indiana volunteers. With his family he moved to Ash Valley from Lawrence county, Indiana, about six months ago, therefore was not known to many here except bis immediate neighbors, who speak highly of him.
- Larned Chronoscope
Larned, Kansas
19 May 1905, Fri • Page 3

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Indiana 81st Regiment History

Regiment: 81st Infantry Regiment Indiana
Date of Organization: 29 Aug 1862
Muster Date: 13 Jun 1865
Regiment State: Indiana
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 81st
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 4
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 1
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 52
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 188
Battles: Fought on 31 Dec 1862 at Stones River, TN.
Fought on 4 Jun 1863 at Murfreesboro, TN.
Fought on 8 Sep 1863 at Lookout Mountain, TN.
Fought on 19 Sep 1863 at Chickamauga, GA.
Fought on 20 Sep 1863 at Chickamauga, GA.
Fought on 15 Jun 1864 at Pine Mountain, GA.
Fought on 20 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 21 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 22 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 23 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 26 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 27 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 4 Jul 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 26 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 31 Aug 1864 at Jonesboro, GA.
Fought on 3 Sep 1864 at Lovejoy Station, GA.
Fought on 15 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.
Fought on 16 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.

Regiment History: Eighty-first Infantry INDIANA
(3-YEARS)
Eighty-first Infantry. -- Cols., William W. Caldwell Horatio
Woodbury, Ranna S. Moore, Oliver P. Anderson, Lieut.-Cois.,
John Timberlake, Horatio Woodbury, Leonidas Stout, William C.
Wheeler, Oliver P. Anderson, Edward G. Mathey, Majs., Horatio
Woodbury, Leonidas Stout, William C. Richards, Edward G.
Mathey, William D. Evritt.
This regiment was organized at New Albany and was mustered in
Aug. 20, 1862. It left the state at once for Louisville,
where it remained until Oct. 1, when it moved with Buell's
army in pursuit of Bragg and was in reserve at the battle of
Perryville.
At Nashville it was assigned to the 3rd brigade, 1st division,
and took part in the movement towards Murfreesboro. At the
battle of Stone's River, it was on the right wing in the
terrible charge of Dec. 31, its brigade holding the ground
until those on either flank fell back, compelling it to retire
and take a new position. The 81st lost 4 killed, 44 wounded
and 40 missing.
It remained at Murfreesboro until in June, when it moved
forward and took part in the fight at Liberty Gap. It
remained at Winchester until Aug. 17, when it marched for
Stevenson Ala., and reached Chattanooga in time to engage in
the battle of Chickamauga, losing 8 killed, 59 wounded and 22
missing.
It was then at Chattanooga until Oct. 25, when it marched for
Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained until Jan. 26, 1864. It
went into camp at Ooltewah, Tenn., until May 3, and then
joined Sherman's army.
It fought at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost gap, Rocky Face Ridge,
Resaca, Dallas, Bald knob, Kingston, Kennesaw Mountain,
Chattahoochee River, Peachtree Creek, about Atlanta, Jonesboro
and Lovejoy's Station.
It joined the pursuit of Hood at Gaylesville Ala. and
proceeded thence to Chattanooga. On Oct. 31 it was detailed
as train guard as far as Pulaski, marched thence to Franklin
and participated in the battle at that point Nov. 30.
It then marched to Nashville, took a prominent part in the
battle there in December, and then pursued the enemy to
Huntsville, Ala. It was ordered to Strawberry plains in
eastern Tennessee, and on April 3, 1865, moved into North
Carolina but returned and proceeded to Nashville, which place
was reached April 22.
It was mustered out June 13, 1865, when the recruits were
transferred to the 31st Ind., with which they remained until
its muster out.
The original strength of the 81st was 939; gain by recruits,
43; total, 982. Loss by death, 236, desertion, 33,
unaccounted for, 8.
Source: Union Army, vol. 3, p. 161
Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Maj. James E. Cavalry, Twenty-first Illinois Infantry,
commanding Eighty-first Indiana Infantry.
HDQRS. EIGHTY-FIRST INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
CAPT.: In accordance with orders from headquarters Second Brigade, First
Division, Twentieth Army Corps, I have the honor
to report that about 2.30 p. m. on the 19th instant, while with the
Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, and being hotly engaged with the enemy
at a point about 3 miles north of Crawfish Spring, on a line west of near
Chickamauga Creek, and east of and parallel to the La Fayette road, leading
to Chattanooga, I received an order to immediately report to Brig.-Gen.
Carlin, commanding brigade.
Upon reporting, Gen. Carlin directed me to at once assume command of the
Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers, of his brigade. I immediately obeyed the
order, and, upon assuming command, found the regiment (Eighty-first
Indiana Volunteers ) lying about 50 yards in rear of and supporting the
Second Minnesota Battery, the regiment not yet having engaged the enemy.
The regiment then numbered in fighting men present for duty, 15 officers
and 240 enlisted men. About five minutes thereafter I received and order in
person from Brig.-Gen. Davis, commanding division, to move my command
about 200 yards to the right and front of the Second Minnesota Battery and
support a regiment there severely engaged with the enemy, saying at the time
he thought it was the thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers. Upon taking position,
the right resting behind and shielded by a point of timber with heavy
undergrowth, the left resting on the crest of and being covered by a slight
elevation, I had discovered a regiment (Seventeenth Kentucky Volunteers)
to my right and a little to my front slowly giving way to the right, and
steadily contesting the ground under a most withering fire from a very heavy
column of the enemy briskly advancing and not over 300 yards distant. We
immediately opened a well-directed fire, first by volley and then by file,
causing the enemy to recoil and give way in much confusion., trebly
relieving the regiment to our right. The firing had not yet ceased when a
large body of the enemy was seen moving to our left, and soon attacked the
Second and Third Brigades of Davis' division. The enemy in our front again
took courage and advanced upon our position, but, being shattered, was
easily repulsed. The brigades to our left and the Second Minnesota Battery,
together with the Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, immediately joining the
Eighty-first Indiana on the left, though most stubbornly and bravely resisting
the terrible onsets of most overwhelming numbers, were driven from their
position, leaving the Eighty-first Indiana entirely without support on the left.
I had in the mean time made a partial change of front to the rear by
throwing back the left wing of the regiment, and continued our fire,
somewhat enfilading the lines of the enemy and partially checking his farther
progress.
About this time a vigorous attack was made on our front and right, causing
the Seventeenth Kentucky to farther withdraw.,
The Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers, owing to the admirable position
occupied, was not suffering very greatly, but the position was so flanked as
to endanger my entire command, exposing it to capture. It was then
withdrawn in good order about 200 yards to a thin curtain of timber covering
the road. After again halting and reopening fire, I was informed by an
officer that 50 yards to our rear and across the road was a fieldwork that had
been hastily constructed of rails. I accordingly faced the regiment about and
took position within the works, when we again opened and continued a most
galling and deadly fire upon the enemy, who had advanced within short
range, and after long and hard fighting he was dislodged from his position
with heavy loss. We immediately followed his retreating forces and retook
our former position at the front, that we had been compelled to abandon, and
held it during the remainder of the day. The Fifty-eight Indiana Volunteers
again came up to our left, and about the same time I observed Brig.-Gen.
Carlin, still to the left of the Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, most fearlessly
moving forward a body of troops I then supposed to be the remainder of
this brigade to the attack of the enemy, again moving up in double lines and
well supported to our attack. The general and his command made a most
gallant and heroic resistance, but being overpowered, were shattered and
driven back with fearful loss, leaving the colors of the Twenty-first Illinois
Volunteers in the hands of the color-sergeant, who was shot dead on the
field. I immediately ordered the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers to open an
oblique fire to the left, completely enfilading the lines of the enemy, and
repulsed him with immense slaughter, recovering the colors of the
Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers and protecting the One hundred and first
Ohio while it most gallantly recovered the Eighth Indiana Battery taken by
the enemy. The Third Brigade of Sheridan's division came to the relief of
Gen. Carlin, and formed on the left of the Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers;
and though the brigade, together with the Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers,
was twice driven from their position, the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers
stubbornly holding its position, never losing an inch of the ground, the
Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers recoiling each time, but seeing the
Eighty-first Indiana standing firmly, would rally and return to our assistance.
Hearing a heavy roll of musketry and much cannonading on our right, and
not knowing who occupied the position, I had fears that my position might
be flanked, as the forces seemed to recoil and the firing was growing to our
rear. Upon information received, and after making a personal inspection of
the right, I learned that a brigade commanded by a Col. Barnes had been
repulsed on our right, but the colonel had so posted his battery as to
command his front and our right, enfilading the enemy's approach in
attempting to turn our position. During the engagement Capt. Eaton and
Lieut. Gross and about 60 men of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers either
reported to me or were rallied upon the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers, and
continued fighting most gallantly under my command, several of them being
wounded; Sergeant Russell, Company G, and Private John Jones, company
F, Twenty-first Illinois, severely.
Being still on the front line and our ammunition nearly exhausted, I was
endeavoring to obtain a supply, when, about sunset, an order came from
Gen. Davis, and immediately thereafter from Gen. Carlin, to withdraw my
command and join the division about 800 yards in rear.
During the engagement on that afternoon we fired an average of 54 rounds
to each man of my command, and suffered the following losses: Officers
wounded, 4, Capt. Mitchell mortally; enlisted men, killed, 4, wounded, 58;
making a grand total of 66 killed and wounded.
In obedience to orders received I rejoined the brigade about dusk, with the
Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers and 3 officers, the regimental colors, and
with about 50 men of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, when we
bivouacked for the night.
At 3 a. m. next morning, on the 20th instant, I received orders to
move my command left in front, following the One hundred and first Ohio.
Marched about half mile and stacked arms at Gen. Rosecrans' headquarters,
remaining until about sunrise. At that hour we moved to the rear about 600
yards and formed a line on an elevated ridge, running west of and parallel
to the Chattanooga and La Fayette road. At about 10 a. m. I received orders
from Brig.-Gen. Carlin to form my command into double column at half
distance and follow the One hundred and first Ohio, moving by the left
flank. We moved steadily along the apex of the ridge in a northeasterly
direction about 1 mile, when we came into an extended glade and halted.
The Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers was ordered to deploy and moved
forward in line, the Eighty-first Indiana moving in column abreast with the
Twenty-first Illinois, and to deploy on reaching the apex of the hill in our
front, and take position in line on the left of the Twenty-first Illinois
Volunteers.
Having deployed my command and the enemy not being immediately in
range, though heavy firing was progressing on our left, I was front, and
follow the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers. Following on this line we
marched about 800 yards, ascending to a somewhat elevated position, and
was ordered to deploy my command and take position on the left of the
Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, behind some rude and illy constructed
fieldwork erected upon our line of battle. I then threw forward Company A,
Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers, Lieut. S. H. McCoy commanding, and
relieved the skirmishers of another command, then retiring.
While posting the skirmishers, I observed the Third Brigade on our left was
heavily attacked and driven back before getting into position. In a few
moments thereafter the enemy appeared emerging from a body of thick
timber about 150 yards in our front and moving to our attack without
skirmishers and in most overwhelming numbers, massed by battalions, and,
as near as I could judge from the battle-flags exhibited, four lines in depth.
Our skirmishers came flying in, and, according to previous instructions,
rallied on the right of the regiment.
As soon as my battalion front was unmasked by the skirmishers we opened
a terrible and deadly fire upon the advancing foe. The steadily advancing and
our men determinedly resisting until but 3 men of the enemy's first line and
about half of his second line were farther progress seemed checked, perhaps
impossible. Being near the right of the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers and
the left of the and horror the right of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers was
breaking and rapidly melting away. After a second and more careful
observation I noticed the enemy was actually crossing the breastworks on the
right and extending his left flank far to our rear, completely flanking our
position, at the same time pouring a deadly fire from the rear on the
Twenty-first Illinois volunteers. Seeing the desperate and critical state of
affairs, having no opportunity of obtaining orders, and knowing further delay
would surrender my entire command, I gave orders for a hasty retreat. The
fire being most terribly destructive our lines were entirely broken and the
command was temporarily disorganized. In company with Brig.-Gen. Carlin,
commanding brigade; Capt. Smith, One hundred and first
Ohio; Capt. Varner, Twenty-fifth Illinois, and captain Wheeler, and several
other officers of the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers, we made several efforts
with partial success to rally our scattered commands. We made three several
stands, and on a rise about 1, 200 yards to the rear of the fieldwork, made
the last and desperate resistance with a few hundred men, checking the
progress of the enemy and enabling our batteries to be taken safely from the
field. We then withdrew from the field quietly and sullenly with every
regimental color and field piece of the brigade, and retired about 1 1/2
miles to the rear, reaching there about 2 p. m. and reformed our remnant
of a command. We then, in company with the brigade and division to which
we are attached, together with several other divisions of the army, moved to
a position about 2 miles nearer Chattanooga, and bivouacked for the night.
Upon calling the roll of the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers 2 officers and 19
enlisted men were reported missing. We have good evidence for knowing
that several among the missing were killed or wounded, but owing to the
great uncertainty enveloping the case they are all reported on the sad list of
missing. We expended in the two days' fighting about 61 rounds of
ammunition per man, and sustained the following casualties: Six officers and
81 enlisted men, a correct list of the names having preceded this report.
It is due, under the circumstances, that I should speak of the conduct of the
officers and men of the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers. With scarcely an
exception they behaved in the most gallant and admirable manner, and
though comparatively a young regiment, conducted themselves with the
coolness, steadiness, and precision of veterans on the field of battle. Capt.
Mitchell, a brave and efficient officer, was mortally wounded, and
Lieut.'s Northcutt, Cummings, and Zimmerman were wounded while
gallantly leading their men in the discharge of their duties. They battled as
brave men worthy of the best Government ever instituted among men, and
the Republic may feel confident when its interests rest in the hands of such
defenders. It would be deemed little less than invidious were I to mention
one officer or man as excelling another in gallantry and efficiency, but I
cannot close this report without thanking Adjutant Schell for the aid and
courtesies he has shown me in the discharge of my duties, and tendering all
the officers and men my thanks for the cheerfulness and universal
promptness with which they have obeyed my orders. I desire to offer no
eulogium upon the conduct of the officers and men of the Eighty-first
Indiana Volunteers. I wish to say they shared no higher honor than that they
"fought in Carlin's brigade of the Army of the Cumberland, obeyed orders,
and did their duty in the great battle of Chickamauga, 'the Creek of Death,
'" and when the long sad list of killed, wounded, and missing is published
the shadows of gloom that will gather around many of the hearth stones of
our homes will show that there also they were loved and appreciated.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
J. E. CALLOWAY,
Maj. Twenty-first Illinois volunteers, Comdg.
Capt. S. P. VORIS,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brigade, First Division.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 522-50
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]