Beschreibung:

The lot includes correspondence related to Robert M. Campbell, accompanied by a CDV signed by Campbell as Captain, with backmark of D.P. Barr, Army Photographer. Palace of Art. Vicksburg, Mississippi. The correspondence includes: four leaves (eight pages) detached from a pocket diary (3 x 4.5 in.), covering the period of April 6 to May 18, 1862. The first page and part of the second are the most significant (his spelling retained): Sabbath April 6th 1862 We were surprised by the Enemy early this morning. They advanced in large force under Gen Johnson [sic - Albert Sidney Johnston] & Beaureguard. Surprised our army under Gen. Grant and forced our lines back for one mile taking possession of our camps. Our Regt fought well losed a large lot of men, had two killed in our Co. F. Thume [Frederick] & F. Olert [Ferdinand] Had 6 wounded. We were reinforced by Buell about dark. I was on guard all night. Monday Apr 7th 62 We were ordered forward. The enemy fell back. We routed them __ist. It was done by hard fighting. Our Regt was in Col. Marsh Bry__ _____ brought up in front of a large force run them… we came back to our camp found everything torn up & destroyed _____ my diary. Tuesday Apr. 8 Were called out in line but false alarm. Raining today. The report of or [our] killed & Wounded were Killed 16 Wounded 114. Our Co. 2 Killed 7 Wounded…. By about the 24th of April they moved to a new camp. Things were reasonably quiet (for a war) for the next month. The lot also includes a number of documents that make up the life of a captain, including 20 rosters of issues and returns of clothing, equipment and ordnance for early 1865 - Feb. (6), March (4), April (2), and May (7), plus a 4th Quarter muster and pay roll. The first two months found the 47th USCT in Barrancas, FL; by April they had moved to Mobile, AL; May found them still in Mobile, but by the end of the month they were in New Orleans on their way to Texas. The 47th was on garrison duty in Texas until the end of the year, then mustered out in Jan. 1866. The three letters from Capt. Campbell include: 3pp, Camp 47th Regt. U.S. Cold. Inft., Vicksburg, Miss. Sept 20th, 1864. To his brother, Alex. He tells his younger brother that he is doing well, and tells him to study hard in school so he can write a long letter. Later he includes an extract from a circular read to his unit, the circular ordered by Maj. Gen. N.J.T. Dana. He quotes from a communication received from Col. Kerr, another commander of a colored unit, who wrote: 'I find the health of the colored troops is much better than that of the white: but am unable to assign any reason therefore. I also feel it my duty to report that in respect shown and attention to saluting officers and in the details of camp life the colored troops of this command exceed the white.' The favorable reason of difference in the health mentioned in Colonel Kerr’s report is on acct of greater attention being paid to duty by officers of colo[red regts] than officers of white Regiments. By order of Maj. Gen. N.J.T. Dana. {Damage to last page with significant paper loss.} In a short 1p letter that is only dated "Tuesday morning 14" (they were in Barrancas, FL), he describes the rain. It seemed to never stop, and he was having trouble finding a place dry to write. However (probably after a few of his own "mud marches" over the years in service), Let it rain all the time. Still we have no mud. The water soaks into the sand as fast as it falls. The first letter includes a cover addressed to Mr. M.D. Campbell, Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois. Camp near Jackson Tenn. July 6th 1862. He tells his father that they thought they were being sent east, but it was a false alarm…we have not gone yet [to Washington, DC] nor do I expect we will go now unless our Eastern Army fails to do aney thing then I suppose they will call on the western boys to go and do the fighting for them. Well we have spent an other 4th in the army and rather a dull one….He goes on to describ