The National tribune., 1904-07-28
A GREEN HOOSIER BOY.
Checked Gen. Dan Adams's Confederate Bri-
gade.

6oN0.
When the war Of the rebellion broke out,
Tom Campbell, a young and vigorous
Hoosier, was at work on his fathers farm
near Attica, Ind, and like many others
felt it to be his duty to join the army and
do his part in saving the Union. Being
an only son, and his services almost indis-
pensable on the farm, his father for a
time prevailed upon him to remain at
home, but in 1862, after the wheat and
the corn were harvested and the more
pressing farm work was out of the way,
Tom could no longer be restrained, and
go into the service he would and did. Max
ing his way to indianapolis, he duly en-
listed, was sworn into the service, and at
his request was assigned as a recruit to Co.
A, 10th Ind, which company was raised
in and near Attica. In due time he Joined
the regiment, then in camp near Nashville
Tenn, and, clad in new suit of blue and
armed with a Springfield rifle, was de-
clared ready for initiation into the miseries
and delights of soldering. Very soon after
Toms arrival the army marched upon
Murfreesboro, and Tom, with the rest of
the 10th boys, plodded his weary way along
the pike, across the fields and through the
cedar thickets until brought up face to face
with Braggs army at Stone River. Our
hero had had no time to learn the drill and
but few of the ordinary military COM
mands, and, to use his own expression,
knew no more about the duty of soldier
than adams off OK" He accepted all the
hardships in good part, was always good
natured and willing, but the distinctions
of rank had no terrors for his patriotic
soul. lie was not educated up to the
point where he could understand why the
Sergeants and Corporals of A Company
had the right to order him about, when he
knew these same boys at home and was as
good as they were. He gave his Captain
and Lieutenants all due respect, but made
life a burden for the non-commssioned
officers by his neglect to obey orders, and
as a consequence was almost perpetually
on extra duty. This, too, was taken good
naturally, and in spite of his waywardness
it was impossible to bear him any malice
The 10th Ind. was in Woods Division
Of the left wing. and when McCook's COM
mand, on the right, was swept away, the
left wing was soon called into action. Tom
watched the fugitiveS streaming back from
the broken right, saw batteries hurrying
into action, mounted Aids and orderles
dashing over the field, wounded men being
carried to the rear, heard the terrible up
roar of artillery and musketry, all with
placid and unmoved composure. So far as
he knew, this was the regular thing, and
he did not propose to worry until he had
to. When his regiment moved forward
Tom, of course, went along, but by no
means did he confine himself to the ranks
of Co. A. With the spirit of an American
freeman he felt that he was entitled to the
whole field, and each company was from
time to time honored by his presence. The
regiment halted, but not so with Tom.
Ahead of him he saw thin line of men
apparently standing or lying about as they
pleased, and as this seemed more like his
kind of soldering he shot ahead and Joined
them. They were the skrmishers of the
regiment, but Tom did not know it, which
was perhaps just as we'll. He could not
find a place to suit him, and seeing a rail
fence some distance in front. deliberately
walked up to it and ensconced himself in
a corner. Just about this time. Gen. Dan
Adams's Confederate Brigade was moving
to attack the position held by the 18th
and 57th Ind. and its line of march was
directly over the ground occupied by Tom
Campbell. That worthy was holding his
position utterly unconscious of the fact
that such distinguished visitors were bear
ing down upon him, when, happening to
glance through the cracks between the
rails, he espied the stars and bars directly
in front. In a moment, after ascending a
men in gray came in sight, and Tom rea
liked that trouble was brewing for him.
Taking careful aim at the man who car
ried the flag, he blazed away and over
went the color-bearer. There was no time
to reload, and Tom concluded he had bet
ter rejoin the skirmishers, but on looking
around found to his amazement that they
were gone. They had fallen back on the
main line, and the regiment was in line of
battle awaiting the threatened attack. The
question then was how to get out of the |
scrape, and for moment Tom was nom |
plussed. He reasoned if he ran in a |
straight line he would be shot down in no
time, SO he decided that a zig-zag sidewise
retreat would be the safer plan. This he
put into execution, and amid
shower of bullets he went to the rear in
slightly undigniied manner. One bullet
clipped off lock of his abundant hair,