September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date Union soldier's Autograph Letter Signed by Robert J. Campbell, 3rd Iowa Infantry, who enlisted in June, 1861, was severely wounded in the arm and taken prisoner at Jackson, Mississippi, July 12, 1863, transferred to the 2nd Iowa Infantry and muster out as a captain in July 1865. This letter is 4pp. quarto, datelined "Camp at Bolivar, Tenn." October 15, 1862, with interesting hand carried cover docketed on verso by "J.C. Campbell Covington, Kentucky Co. D 96 Regt. Ohio Inft.", it reads in part: "...Perhaps you have heard all about the fight at Corinth and the defeat of the Rebels and how they were intercepted by Gen. Hurlburt's 4th Division to which the 3rd Iowa is attached. On the 4th of the present month we started five thousand strong to intercept the rebel horde who were retreating across Hatchie River to Holly Springs. Their force supposed to be thirty thousand strong. We marched on the fourth about twenty five miles having had two skirmishes losing one man and taking five prisoners. Late in the evening just as we stacked arms (the 3rd Iowa) the Rebels came dashing down the road aiming to throw us into confusion. The 3rd Iowa being in advance soon fell in and presented a front the enemy soon fell back all remain quiet during the night. Next day the 5th the contending parties came together. The rebels were driven from hill to dale and clean across the Hatchie. They were so hotly pressed as to have no time to destroy the bridge, but they gained the hills which commanded the bridge and surrounding forestry and then held us at bay for two hours. They were pouring into our ranks grape shot at short range. Their batterys were supported by strong bodies of Infantry and it succumbed that our Regiment and several others which were in advance would soon be annihilated if something was not soon done. Gen. Hurlburt rode up and says to our Col. - that Battery must be taken and you could do it with the 3rd Iowa. Gen. Lawman cast his eyes along our line and says - boys remember Iowa and your good reputation. Away our Gen's and Col. started taking the lead and with a cheer and fixed bayonet we started the grape shot, fairly mowing the boys down, but we didnt mind it then. The Rebels soon fell back and retreated in disorder leaving everything which would be a hindrance to their skedaddle. We took eleven pieces of cannon, seven hundred prisoners, a large number of staff and line officers, a great many supplies and one prisoner told me that Price destroyed his whole train of supply wagons and also one hundred barrels of flour, took about one thousand small arms. The rebel loss said to be about three hundred in killed. Our loss in killed and wounded seven hundred. Our Reg. has in hospital fifty five wounded very bad being as they were from grape shot range and strange to say only four have died since. About one half of the Reg. was hit by something. Our company had one man killed and five very badly wounded. Nearly all the company was hit by something. I was hit by pieces of shell, spent balls...." Fine condition.
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