John L. Bullis

John Lapham Bullis (April 17, 1841 – May 26, 1911) was a much-decorated American soldier and later an entrepreneur.

He was born at Macedon, New York, the eldest of the seven children of Dr. Abram R. and Lydia P. (Lapham) Bullis. Although brought up as a Quaker, he did not attend services regularly.

Bullis served in the Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish–American War.

In the 1870s and 1880s Bullis used his knowledge of West Texas to make very shrewd investments in land. In 1886 Bullis was a partner in the Shafter Silver Mine in Presidio County, Texas with famed Colonel William R. Shafter and rancher John A. Spencer. These investments made him a very wealthy man.

On August 8, 1862, Bullis enlisted as a private in the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was quickly promoted to corporal.

Bullis was wounded and captured at the Battle of Harpers Ferry (September 12–15, 1862). During the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), he was wounded and captured again. He then was imprisoned for 10 months at the brutal Libby Prison in Virginia until he was exchanged for a Confederate soldier in the spring of 1864.

In August 1864 he was commissioned as a captain in the 118th USCT Infantry. The United States Colored Troops were a unit composed of runaway and freed black slaves who had volunteered to fight against the Confederacy. Their officers and most senior non-commissioned officers were white; they had to volunteer for the assignment and received a promotion. Distinguished enlisted men or experienced non-commissioned officers were offered subaltern ranks (ensign, lieutenant, or captain), and officers were granted promotions to field rank (major, lieutenant colonel, or colonel).

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