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From: "Anderson" <>
Subject: Everyone's ancestors. Gettysburg 50th anniversary letter.
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 18:59:39 -0700
References: <19b.2843446f.2e4d4378@aol.com>


(See letter mentioning attendance at Gettysburg 50th reunion, farther
below.)

Terence J. Tully. Great-grandfather. Enrolled in Company A, 13th Vermont
Volunteer Infantry, on 22 Aug 1862 at Rutland VT, where he was apparently
working in a marble quarry with a bunch of other Irish immigrants. A
regimental history says the company trained at Burlington for about a month,
then joined the regiment at Brattleboro. Sent to Washington DC, and camped
in tents for about ten days on Capitol Hill, "which in those days was an
undeveloped, barren area, susceptible to stifling dust storms." In early
November they began their principal mission, which was to assist in the
defenses surrounding the city of Washington. This consisted in picket duty
at various locations in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, Virginia.

Tully ran into his brother-in-law Pat Flaherty at Gettysburg on July 2,
1863. Pat was in Co D, 42nd NY Inf, and, according to Tully, fought at
Ball's Bluff, Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg. After the war Pat was in Co C, 6th US Inf, at Fort Gibson,
Indian Territory.

Tully was promoted to corporal at Gettysburg. The 13th was mustered out at
Brattleboro VT on 21 Jul 1863, and he went back to tailoring, which he
had been trained in by his father and had worked at in his youth in Ireland
and England.

On 25 Mar 1864 Tully, then living in Virginia, enlisted as a landsman on the
USS Wyandotte, a training ship off Norfolk. Enlistment record describes him
as 26 years of age (he was 29), born in County Longford, Ireland, occupation
tailor, 5'4" tall, blue eyes, light brown hair, and a scar over the left
eye. He enlisted under the name James Fox. In an 1893 letter to
the Commissioner of Pensions he wrote: "(I) gave the name of James Fox -
Fox being my mother's maiden name - the cause of giving that name was my
wife's total objection to me ever joining the service again".

Tully served one year in the Navy. He participated 15 Jan 1865 in the
taking of Fort Fisher, near Wilmington NC. He was discharged from the
frigate St. Lawrence on 27 Mar 1865.

He entered the service again in 1878, as a tailor in Co D, 18th US Inf, then
stationed at McPherson Barracks, Atlanta GA. Later helped build Fort
Assiniboine, Montana Territory. He was discharged 22 Apr 1880 at Fort Ellis
MT "by way of favor upon the application of his wife". Made his home at
Bismarck ND, where he ran a tailor shop.

In 1913 he attended the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. In a
letter to one of his sons, dated Bismarck 8 Jul 1913, he wrote:

"I arrived home safe from Gettysburg Sunday, 6th inst., at 2:55 p.m... I
met your Uncle Mike. It was a real heartfelt, loving meeting after 37
years. He broke down, cried aloud and sobbed like a child. We had a great
time. We rode around the Battle field together. Everything was pointed out
to us by the driver of the machine. In all I was 'round the Battle field 3
times.

"The Vermont delegation gave me a great reception. At least three men of my
old company said that they made the trip with the expectation of seeing me.
There was only 6 or 7 of my immediate company. It was the grandest affair
the world ever saw or history recorded.

"There was a comrade of mine - Charles Daniels of Seattle - who was with us
in Co. A, 13th Vt., on all our marches and at the taking of the Peter Rogers
House. He was overjoyed to meet us. We went over the Pickett charge, this
time in real friendship. About a 100 Rebs went and located themselves about
50 yards or so from the Stone Wall and Bloody Angle, and about an equal
number of us took position as we were 50 years ago. We arose and grabbed
them by the hand in the best of good nature, and the Southerners gave us the
most friendly handshake we could expect. Nothing like it ever occurred
before in the annals of history..."

Terence J. Tully was born in Killoe Parish, near Ballinamuck, Co Longford,
Ireland, on 2 Jan 1835, died in Spokane WA 21 Jan 1921, and was buried in
Bismarck ND. He was married to Mary Flaherty (1833-1918) at Drumlish Parish
Church, Co Longford, on 14 Feb 1859. Both their sons, a couple of
sons-in-law and several grandchildren or their spouses were career military
men. One grandson was Army Brig Gen Terence J. Tully (1900-1978). Another
was Rev. Terence J. Tully (1914-2002). See
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/twhalloran/page59.html .

Andy Anderson





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