FRANCIS MOORE, Captain 9 th Cavalry, Commanding to the post adjutant, Ringgold Barracks, March 1, 1875

Captain Moore to the post adjutant, Ringgold Barracks.

To the Post Adjutant, Ringgold Barracks:

Sir: On the evening of the 27th instant, about 7 p.m., the sheriff of this county applied to me for a detachment of men to proceed to the ranch of Fulton, about 9 miles below here, a Mexican having just come in and reported that he had seen men firing and running in and around his house and store. I immediately saddled up and with 14 men accompanied the sheriff. Arriving at Fulton about 8.45, we found a group of frightened Mexicans, who reported that six men (Mexicans,) had attacked the store about dark, killing Mr. Fulton and his assistant, a Mexican. The body of the clerk was lying just at the door, shot through the head, and Fulton’s body about 200 yards distant, also shot through the head; he had evidently ran from the store when he had had a struggle with the robbers, from one of which he had seized a pistol and wounded one. They robbed his person, and, with their wounded comrade, crossed the river near the ranch. It is not known how much money was taken. A small sum was found in the drawers of the counter, which was probably forgotten in their haste.

It is the general impression that one or more of Fulton’s employés were accessories, as there were 7 or 8 men in and around the premises at the time of the attack who tell many contradictory stories, although all of them deny all knowledge of the perpetrators. I placed a detatchment of one non-commissioned officer and six privates at the disposition of the sheriff to assist in taking care of the murdered man’s goods. I also offered him as many men as he might require to assist him in making arrests.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,