Campbell, Alexander W. (1828-1893) to My Dear Father
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02237 Author/Creator: Campbell, Alexander W. (1828-1893) Place Written: Johnson's Island, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 December 1863 Pagination: 3 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Campbell, a Confederate general taken as a prisoner of war, writes from prison at Johnson's Island. Mentions suffering and deprivation due to the poor conditions and requests clothing. " ... Send me a suit of winter clothes with change of many undergarments ... There will be a great deal of suffering among those who occupy the larger open buildings in the lower blocks of the prison ... We have pretty much abandoned all hope of a speedy exchange and we will plan ... for a long gloomy and tedious term of imprisonment. Since all prospect of being exchanged has been extinguished. There is a good deal of sickness here and quite a number of deaths ... " Reports that his health is good and he should be able to manage the winter fine. Discusses family members and friends. Campbell was captured at Lexington, Tennessee in July 1863 and was not exchanged until February 1865. He then commanded a brigade in General W. H. Jackson's division of General Forrest's corps until the surrender. Campbell was promoted to full brigadier general of volunteers at the end of the war. He had been wounded at Shiloh and in July of 1863 captured at Lexington, Tennessee while on mission to oversee elections and recruit troops.
Campbell was captured at Lexington, Tennessee in July 1863 and was not exchanged until February 1865. He then commanded a brigade in General W. H. Jackson's division of General Forrest's corps until the surrender.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
(Mr. Crocker has sent me $50 in all-)
Johnsons Island
Decr 12 1863
My dear Father,
Your Kind favor of the 24th Inst is recd with enclosures. I will divide the money with Capt: Byrd as I suppose he has about exhausted the supply he brought with him. I wrote to Mr Crocker about the 1st inst. to send me a suit of winter clothes with change of heavy undergarments I have not heard from him yet. The weather has been unusually mild for this climate thus far. In fact I have seen colder weather in Tennessee than any we have yet experienced. I was very fortunate in getting into comfortable quarters soon after I came here and think I will be able to pass the winter in comparative comfort. There will be good deal of suffering among those who occupy the large open buildings in the lower blocks of the prison. Our mess was fortunate about a week since in procuring a supply of flour, potatoes, butter, and fruit &c so that we will be safe for a month or two in the eating line. We had a pretty rough time for three weeks living on "rations." We have pretty much abandoned all hope of
[2]
a speedy exchange. And we will have to make up our minds for a long gloomy and tedious term of imprisonment. Since all prospect of being exchanged has been extinguished, [struck: our] time passes more keenly than ever, as before we were constantly buoyed up by the hope of deliverance. My health is very good now and I think I shall be able to pass through the winter without great inconvenience. There is a good deal of sickness here and quite a number of deaths confined chiefly to the lower blocks of the prison. I was apprehensive when I heard of Faulkners raid that the citizens of the Country would be put to inconveniences by the destruction of the road.
You mention that Anne had written me a few days before sending letters from Dr Alexander I regret very much that I have not received it. I dont think I get half the letters she writes me and I am sure she am not get a fourth of those I send to her. I write home once or twice a week some times oftener. For some time I have been [struck: enclosing] [inserted: addressing] my letters to care of Will [Pence] at Paducah thinking he would be more likely to meet with opportunities of sending them through
[3]
than Uncle Robert but recently it has occured to me that perhaps Will was not at Paducah at this time. If so the letters must be in the hands of Trumble & Co with whom he was living. I will until I get further information send them as I did the first I wrote, to care of Uncle Robert.
Until I received your letter I did not know that Sister had commenced going to school. I expect she will be rather impatient of the restraints of the school room. She is such a "run-about." Going only half the day is a good idea as I fear she would [struck: have] take a disgust for her books were she confined too closely.
Give my love to all and tell the family they must write to me often. You have no idea how delightful it is to get letters here. What a relief it is to the dull monotony of prison life.
A Kiss for Ma and Anne and all the children.
Very affectionately
Your Son
Alex: W. Campbell
Tender my thanks to Mr Callaway & Mrs Ford for their Kindness-
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.