In early 1862, John Fuller’s regiment participated in a number of actions in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where the Union Army was consistently out-maneuvered by the Confederates. Union units were kept on the march for years before the valley was subdued and Fuller refers to some of this when he says that his unit has been “dodging about.”
Fuller, a military musician, 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 it felt that too much money was spent on them. As a result, in August, 1862, both John and his musical brother, Francis were discharged from the Army.
