Three men who died on active duty while serving in the Republic of Texas Navy were exhumed from a vandalized and decrepit cemetery in New Orleans and reinterred with full military and Naval honors in adjoining plots on Republic Hill in the Texas State Cemetery.
The three plots are in Section C2, Row U, spaces 15-17
The men are:
Midshipman Fielding R. Culp, RTX Navy (space 16)
LT Charles Fuller, RTX Marines (space 17)
CAPT Robert Oliver, RTX Marines (space 15)
From the biographical page for RTX Navy Midshipman Fielding Culp: (
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"CULP, FIELDING R. (circa 1823~1842) Fielding R. Culp, Midshipman in the Texas Navy, was born in Kentucky, circa 1823, to Daniel and Sarah Richardson Culp. After moving to Texas, he enlisted in the Republic of Texas Navy and was commissioned as a midshipman. He served on the warship "Wharton."
The "Wharton," originally called the "Colorado," but was renamed to honor Republic of Texas veteran John Austin Wharton, was 110 feet long and twenty-eight feed wide and was able to carry 17 officers and 123 sailors and marines. The three year old brig traveled the coasts between Texas and the Yucatan enforcing the Mexican blockade. After returning to Galveston in early 1842, Commander John T. K. Lothrop lost most of his crew, due to the terms of their enlistments and desertions. By May of that same year, with only nine sailors, the "Wharton" set sail for New Orleans for repairs.
The crew stayed in New Orleans for nearly a year while their ship underwent a complete overhaul and more sailors were recruited. During this time, the men, even with such a small number, grew increasingly disgruntled. The combination of bad tempers, too much idle time and cramped quarters often led to disagreements and fisticuffs amongst the men. Culp was involved in one such episode.
Though the nature of the disagreement is not known, Culp and fellow midshipman, George W. White, came to blows and carried their dispute to the New Orleans dueling ground, Dueling Oaks. On October 1, 1842, Culp and White, according to the next day's edition of The Daily Picayune, fought with pistols at a distance of ten paces. With his first shot, White shot Culp and left him severely wounded. The newspapers followed his plight and reported, ironically, on the morning of his death that he was "still living, and hopes are entertained of his recovery."
After being transported to the City Hotel, Culp languished for three days until he died at noon on October 4, 1842. He was buried that same day in the Girod Street Cemetery with full military honors. The newspapers reported that detachments from the First Company of Native Americans, Marion Rifles of the Washington Battalion, the Louisiana Greys, the Montgomery Guards and the Cannoniers were all in attendance.
Culp was buried with Republic of Texas Marine Lieutenant Charles F. Fuller. Both were later joined by fellow Marine Captain Robert Oliver. Culp's headstone in the Girod Street Cemetery read: Fielding R. Culp/ Born in Kentucky / Died Oct. 4-1842 / Aged 19 Years.
The Girod Street Cemetery, which belonged to the Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral, was New Orleans' first large protestant burial ground and the final resting place to many of the city's leaders. But, by 1945, the city health department condemned the cemetery as a burial ground. Suffering from years of vandalism and neglect, the cemetery languished until July 30, 1953, when the city ordered the removal of all the remains.
When the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas heard what was happening to the graves of three Republic of Texas veterans, Oliver, Culp, and Fuller, they had their bodies returned to Texas and buried in the Texas State Cemetery with full military honors on January 15, 1955.
Information taken from: The Daily Picayune, Monday, October 2, 1842; The Daily Picayne, Tuesday, October 4, 1842; The Daily Picayune, Wednesday, October 5, 1842; Devereaux, Linda Ericson, ?The Texas Navy,? Ericson Books, Nacogdoches, Texas, 1983. Douglas, Claude L, ?Thunder on the Gulf: The Story of the Texas Navy,? Turner Company, 1936; reprint, Old Army Press, 1973. Meed, Douglas V., ?The Fighting Texas Navy: 1832 ? 1843,? Republic of Texas Press, 2001. ?The Texian,? Vol. 2, No. 4, January 3, 1955, published by the Sons of the Republic of Texas; "The Crumbling World of Girod Street Cemetery", Dixie, Times-Picayune States Roto Magazine, August 29, 1954"WHARTON." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Sat Nov 23 13:44:58 US/Central 2002]."
The biolgraphy for RTX Marine LT Fuller: (
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"FULLER, CHARLES F. (? ~1842) Charles F. Fuller, lieutenant in the Republic of Texas Marine Corps, is believed to been a native of Washington, D. C. After moving to Texas, he worked in the Navy Yard in Galveston and, after enlisting in the Republic of Texas Navy and Marine, he was commissioned as a lieutenant and was assigned to the schooner-of-war, the "San Antonio."
After sailing throughout the Caribbean in early 1842, the "San Antonio" was called to port, but, before returning to Texas, the crew first landed in New Orleans to drop off survivors of the "Sylph," an American ship that had wrecked. While in New Orleans, the crew also set out to obtain supplies for the other ships in the Navy, the "Austin" and the "San Bernard." On February 11, 1842, the high officers went ashore, but denied leave to the crew for fear of desertion. Lt. Fuller was left in command.
Seymour Oswald, sergeant of Marines, who had been punished several times for insubordination and who was drunk on contraband liquor, argued with Lt. M. H. Dearborn, the officer in charge of the deck, after his mandate for leave was denied. An argument ensued and Lt. Fuller came up on deck to investigate. He placed Lt. Dearborn in charge of the restrained marine guards to try to prevent a mutiny, but Oswald, outraged at Fuller's actions, proceeded to attack him with his hatchet, but missed. During the struggle, Fuller was shot and killed by Seaman Benjamin Punippelly and two other midshipmen were wounded.
Oswald and his cohorts, after locking the other officers below deck, left the "San Antonio" in two boats, but were quickly apprehended by the U. S. revenue cutter, the "Jackson," whose captain heard the shot that killed Fuller. All of the men who took part in the mutiny spent the night in jail, though two were later returned to the "San Antonio." The remaining spent the next year in jail until Commodore Moore could figure out what to do with them.
That next year, Commodore Moore, in April, 1843, finally held proceedings to court martial and punish the mutineers of the "San Antonio," though, New Orleans refused to release some of the men and others died when the "San Antonio" was lost at sea. The remaining eight men were charged with mutiny, murder, or an attempt to murder, and desertion. Frederick Shepherd, who turned states evidence against the others, was acquitted and released, but died three weeks later in battle. John Williams, William Barrington, and Ed Keenan were found guilty and were given 100 lashes with the cats-o-nine-tails. Antonio Landois, William Simpson, Isaac Allen, and James Hudgins were found guilty of all of the charges and hanged on April 26, 1843, from the yardarms of the "Austin." Sergeant Oswald, who started the mutiny, escaped from the New Orleans jail and Seaman Benjamin Punippelly, who killed Lt. Fuller, died while in custody, before being turned over to Commodore Moore.
With no family to claim his body, Charles F. Fuller was buried in the Girod Cemetery, which belonged to the Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral. The cemetery was New Orleans' first large protestant burial ground and was the final resting place to many of the city's former leaders. Later that same year, Midshipman Fielding R. Culp and Captain Robert Oliver, also veterans of the Republic of Texas Navy, were buried alongside Fuller. Fuller's headstone in the Girod Cemetery read: Sacred to the memory of / Charles F. Fuller / Lieutenant Texas Navy / Who fell in the execution of his / duty in suppressing a mutiny on board / the Schooner of War San Antonio / 11 Feb 18[4]2.
In 1945, due to neglect, the city health department condemned the cemetery as a burial ground. Suffering from even more neglect and subsequent years of vandalism, the cemetery languished until July 30, 1953, when the city ordered the removal of all the remains.
When the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas heard what was to happen to the graves of three Republic of Texas veterans, they had their bodies returned and buried in the Texas State Cemetery with full military honors on January 15, 1955.
Information taken from: Devereaux, Linda Ericson, ?The Texas Navy,? Ericson Books, Nacogdoches, Texas, 1983. Douglas, Claude L, ?Thunder on the Gulf: The Story of the Texas Navy,? Turner Company, 1936; reprint, Old Army Press, 1973. "The Texian," Vol. 2, No. 4, January 3, 1955, published by the Sons of the Republic of Texas; "The Crumbling World of Girod Cemetery", Dixie, Times-Picayune States Roto Magazine, August 29, 1954; "SAN ANTONIO." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Sat Nov 23 14:18:41 US/Central 2002]."
and the bio for RTX Marine CPT Robert Oliver:
"OLIVER, ROBERT (1816~1842) Robert Oliver, Captain in the Texas Marine Corps, was born January 13, 1816, in North Berwick, Scotland. While in the Marines, Oliver was aboard the sloop "Austin," which had been sailing up and down the Mexican coast in search of "prizes." While there, Oliver came down with congestive fever, or Malaria.
As the "Austin" was on its way to New Orleans, Oliver, who had been suffering for about fifteen days, died on October 11, 1842. His body was taken and buried in the Girod Cemetery, next to two other Republic of Texas Navy and Marine veterans, Lt. Charles F. Fuller and Midshipman Fielding R. Culp. Oliver's headstone in the Girod Cemetery read: Robt. Oliver / Capt. Texas Marine Corps / Born Jan. 13, 1816 / At North Berwick Scotland / Died Oct 11, 1842 / Honored, loved and esteemed by / All who knew him.
Girod Cemetery belonged to the Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral and was New Orleans' first large protestant burial ground and the final resting place to many of the city's former leaders.
In 1945, due to neglect, the city health department condemned the cemetery as a burial ground. Suffering from even more neglect and subsequent years of vandalism, the cemetery languished until July 30, 1953, when the city ordered the removal of all the remains.
When the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas heard what was to happen to the graves of three Republic of Texas veterans, they had their bodies returned and buried in the Texas State Cemetery with full military honors on January 15, 1955.
Information taken from: ?The Texian,? Vol. 2, No. 4, January 3, 1955, published by the Sons of the Republic of Texas; "The Crumbling World of Girod Cemetery", Dixie, Times-Picayune States Roto Magazine, August 29, 1954; "AUSTIN." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Sat Nov 23 15:32:49 US/Central 2002]."