Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-11
GENERAL A. w. CAMPBELL.
The Part He PLAYED in the Battle of
shiloh.
A Gallant and Effective Incident in His
Military Career.

To the Editors of the Appeal:
JACKSON, Tenn, August S-Since Madi-
son, the county where ne was reared and has
resided during the whole period OF his man
hood, has Overwhelmingly declared for Cen
eral A. w. Campbell, as the successor OF the
distinguished and able representative, Cen
eral ]. ID. c. Atkins, in the Congress OF the
United States, it will be Interesting TO the
people of this congressional distrie. TO be re-
minded of an incident in the military career
of General Campbell, which has never bsen
prominently set forth, and which reflects the
highest credit upon him and his gallant regl-
ment, as we'll as the brigade he had the
honor to command in the battle of Shiloh
This incident is authenticated by the official
report OF Lieutenant General l.. Polk, from
which we have the privilege OF quoting AS
follows:
"These three brigades General Stewards,
General Bushrod Johnson's and Colonel
RusselPs), with occasionally regiment OF
some other which became detached. were
fully employed in The field assigned me.
They fought over the same ground three
times, as the fortunes of the day varied, al
ways with steadiness a single instance only
excepted, and that only for a moment) and
with occasional instances OF brilliant cour-
age. Such was the case with the Thirty.
third regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, under
nessee, under Lieutenant Venable, both for
the moment under the command OF Colonel
Campbell. Shortly after they were frs
brought forward as supporting force, they
found themselves ordered to support two
regiments of the line before them which
were lying down and engaging the enemy
irregularly On advancing, they drew the
enemy's FIRE over the heads OF the regiments
in their front. 1t was OF so fierce a char
antar n AZ tneu nlust either advance fall
back. Campbell called 10 the regiments be-
fore him to charge. This they declined to
90. He then gave orders TO his own regi-
ment to charge, and led them in gallant
style over he heads of the regiments lying
In advance OF him, sweeping the enemy be-
fore him and putting them completely to
rout. In This charge Colonel Campbell was
severely wounded"
This force of the enemy, which was "com-
pletely routed" proved to be the brigade OF
Premises, which by this charge was driven
into the cut de sac that had previously been
prepared. for them, and by means OF which
they were afterward captured. 1t may safely
be asserted that no more gallant or effective
incident occurred during this great battle.
By it one of the enemy's strongest points was
broken aud one of his most Unborn Leaders
routed and aiterward made prisoner.
Despite the severe wound received b,
Colonel Campbell he retained command OF
his regiment on the next day, and with the
force commanded by General Cheatham, &C
cording TO the official report just quoted,
took an active part in Zone OF the most des-
perateiy contested conflicts of the battle"
which continued for four hours, and in
which "the enemy was gradually driven
from his position, and, though reinforced
several times during the engagement, he
could make no impression on that part OF
our line"
This incident is here given not because
General Campbell's friends rest his claim to
a nomination for Congress by the d mo
cratic party upon military service, bui
merely 10 show of what stuff one of the most
eloquent Statesmen we have is made.
AN OLD DEMOCRAT.