Campbell, Alexander W., 1828-1893 to My Dear Father
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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.
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