The Town of Abingdon, Virginia

RESTORING & EXPLORING ABINGDON

Welcome to the third segment of Restoring and Exploring Abingdon! If it’s getting restored, rebuilt, reimagined, or rediscovered—we’re going to talk about it. From historic landmarks getting a new lease on life, to community improvements you’ve maybe driven by ten times without noticing, we're here to shine a light on all the good things happening behind the scenes.

For our third segment, we'd like to explore Sinking Spring Cemetery! In winter of 2024, ETSU Graduate Student, Noah Hall, under the advisement of Associate Professor Eileen Ernenwein, partnered with the Town of Abingdon to investigate the number of unmarked graves that are in the Eastern section of Sinking Spring Cemetery. During that time, Town Foreman of Facilities, James Frazier, approached Senior Planner, Gabe Cristofari, with some information that was beneficial to Mr. Hall's project. Mr. Frazier, a veteran, recognized the insignia on a gravestone in the cemetery, identifying the individual as a Buffalo Soldier.

Upon further investigation, Town staff identified two additional Buffalo Soldiers laid to rest in the Eastern section of Sinking Spring Cemetery. The Town is awaiting biographies on the two additional soldiers from the National Park Service. However, we have identified the first Buffalo Solider as Sidell City Fulton, who fought in the Spanish American War, and his biography is below:

On November 10, 1875, Sidell City Fulton was born in Morristown, Tennessee. His father, Mack, and oldest brother, James, worked as barbers. His mother, Eliza, cared for him and his four sisters at home as they attended school. Fulton later left school and worked as a laborer.

On April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain. As the country prepared for war, Fulton decided to enlist in the Army. On June 11, Fulton enlisted in the Army and was assigned to M Troop of the Ninth Cavalry. On June 14, the Ninth Cavalry departed for Cuba and prepared for battle. On July 1, the Ninth Cavalry participated in the Battle of San Juan Heights along with his troop, the Tenth Cavalry, Twenty-Fourth Infantry, Twenty-Fifth Infantry, and the First Cavalry “Rough Riders.”

After the Battle of San Juan Heights, the American forces were able to surround Havannah and force a surrender of the Spanish on August 13. Though the fighting had ended, soldiers continued to suffer from disease, so they were assigned to Camp Wikoff in Mountauk, New York, to quarantine and recuperate. On October 4, the Ninth Cavalry departed Camp Wikoff as they were assigned to Fort Grant, Arizona.

On January 28, 1899, Sidell was honorably discharged at Fort Grant. He was noted by his commanding officer as a “very Good” soldier. Fulton returned home to Morristown, Tennessee and worked as a hotel waiter. He later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as a decorator and painter. On December 24, 1914, Fulton married Nannie G. Dorton. In 1940, they moved to Abingdon, Virginia, where Fulton worked as a laborer and painter.

On May 23, 1947, Sidell City Fulton died in Abingdon. On May 26, he was buried in the Sinking Spring Cemetery in Abingdon. On September 2, 1947, his wife, Nannie G. Fulton, ordered his headstone, which is still there today.

Photo: Sidell Fulton gravestone, courtesy of James Fraizer

For more information on the Buffalo Soldiers, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/buffalosoldiers/index.htm

For more information on Sinking Spring Cemetery, or Noah Hall's thesis project, please contact Gabe Cristofari at gcristofari@abingdon-va.gov or 276-628-3167.