Walter John Campbell was born Jan 1, 1843 about 9 miles southeast of Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois to Robert and Nancy (Fogler) Campbell. In Oct. 1844 when Walter was not quite 2, his father died. In Jan. 1845 his mother gave birth to a second child which she named Robert.
At the age of 8 Walter's mother married Eli Schwarm in 1851.
Walter worked at farming and carpentry until the Civil War broke out.
With a group of 85 other men, Walter went to St. Louis, Mo. to enlist in the Union Army for three months, but instead enlisted for three years. On June 14, 1861, Walter enlisted in the 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company "C", quartered in the St. Louis Arsenal. Most of his training and drilling were done at Pilot Knob, Missouri until Sept. 1861 when he went back to St. Louis Arsenal and drew his first uniforms and his first pay of $8.00 per month.
From Dec. 1861 to April 1862 his unit went into winter quarters at Otterville, Mo. at Lamine River Bridge. He then marched to Jefferson City, Mo., then were taken by rail cars to St. Louis, then by boat down the Mississippi River and up the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers to Pittsburgh Landing. Here his unit was put into General Sherman's Division. His unit saw its first action in a skirmish in the spring of 1862 at Corinth where they lost some of their men. The summer and fall of 1862 were spent drilling and scouting. Then in Dec. 1862 they started overland with General Grant to Vicksburg. They were then taken by boats to Chickasaw Bayou, where they had their first hard battle. After losing a number of men, they were forced to retreat. Pvt. Campbell was reported killed during this battle as he became separated from his Company and fell in with Company "A". Upon reaching his own Company later in the day Pvt. Campbell recounted the names of those killed, among which his name was mentioned. So he spoke up and said, "Hold on there, not yet."
On Jan 11, 1863 at the mouth of the Arkansas River, they were involved at the battle at Arkansas Post, where the Rebels were under the command of General Church. They managed to take around 8000 Rebels prisoner.
On May 16, 1863 they were at the battle of Champion Hill, Miss.
In Nov. 1863, the unit took part in the battle at Missionary Ridge in southern Tennessee and northern Georgia.
In Dec. 1863 at Larkinville, Ala. they went into winter quarters and most of the men reenlisted for three more years or until the end of the war, and received new clothes. In Jan. 1864 they were then taken back to St. Louis where Mr. Campbell then took a 30 day furlough and went to his home near Vandalia, Ill. After his furlough he joined back up at Larkinville with his unit and was promoted to Orderly Sgt. They then went to Chattanooga joining General Sherman's Army on the Atlanta campaign.
The next battles were at Snake Creek Gap, followed by actions at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Ezra Chapel, and Jonesboro. The command then followed General Hood as far as Rome, Ga. On June 24, 1864 on the side of Kenesaw Mt. Sgt. Campbell's chum was killed. On July 5, 1864 Sgt. Campbell saw his brother, Robert for the first time since the War had broken out. Robert had enlisted in 1863.
During the summer of 1864 the unit started with Gen. Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea". On Dec. 13, 1864 the Division ( 2nd Div. 2nd Army Corp) took Fort McAllister. Gen. Sherman's Army tore up 40 miles of railroad. On Jan 1, 1865 they went into Savannah.
After this, in Feb. 1865 the Army began marching north where they marched through the Carolina's. They marched through Columbia on Feb. 17, 1865. The city burned. On March 20, 1865 we fought the battle of Bentonville. A few days later we were told that General Lee had surrendered.
They then marched into Raleigh, N. C. and while there were told that General Johnston had surrendered on April 26, 1865. One morning while taking the Company report to the Adjutant, an officer told Sgt. Campbell that President Lincoln had been killed.
In May 1865 the command then marched through Virginia and into Washington D. C. where they took part in the Grand Review. On May 26, 1865, Sgt. Campbell caught a glimpse of President Andrew Johnson while marching in the Grand Review.
On Aug. 17, 1865 First Sgt. Campbell received his discharge in St. Louis and arrived home on Sept.1,1865. Before being discharged, First Sgt. Campbell was offered a brevet Lieutenancy. This offer he turned down. Mr. Campbell served, four years and two months and was discharged as First Sergeant of his Company. During his months as a Sergeant Mr. Campbell received a pay of about $22.40 per month.
After the war Mr. Campbell resided in Vandalia, Ill. until 1867 when he moved to Minooka, Grundy County, Ill. and opened a harness shop.
He was married on Sept. 5, 1870 to Miss. Hannah Isabel "Belle" Gifford in her home town of Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio. She is a daughter of John N. and Martha R. (Messenger) Gifford. Their children are: Clara "Maud", Dora M., Hattie O., Robert W., Gertrude E. B., and John G.
Mr. Campbell is a member of Post No. 494 G. A. R.
(Much of the Civil War information comes from "Soldiers and Patriots Biographical Album" Union Veteran Publishing Co. 1892)
At the age of 8 Walter's mother married Eli Schwarm in 1851.
Walter worked at farming and carpentry until the Civil War broke out.
With a group of 85 other men, Walter went to St. Louis, Mo. to enlist in the Union Army for three months, but instead enlisted for three years. On June 14, 1861, Walter enlisted in the 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company "C", quartered in the St. Louis Arsenal. Most of his training and drilling were done at Pilot Knob, Missouri until Sept. 1861 when he went back to St. Louis Arsenal and drew his first uniforms and his first pay of $8.00 per month.
From Dec. 1861 to April 1862 his unit went into winter quarters at Otterville, Mo. at Lamine River Bridge. He then marched to Jefferson City, Mo., then were taken by rail cars to St. Louis, then by boat down the Mississippi River and up the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers to Pittsburgh Landing. Here his unit was put into General Sherman's Division. His unit saw its first action in a skirmish in the spring of 1862 at Corinth where they lost some of their men. The summer and fall of 1862 were spent drilling and scouting. Then in Dec. 1862 they started overland with General Grant to Vicksburg. They were then taken by boats to Chickasaw Bayou, where they had their first hard battle. After losing a number of men, they were forced to retreat. Pvt. Campbell was reported killed during this battle as he became separated from his Company and fell in with Company "A". Upon reaching his own Company later in the day Pvt. Campbell recounted the names of those killed, among which his name was mentioned. So he spoke up and said, "Hold on there, not yet."
On Jan 11, 1863 at the mouth of the Arkansas River, they were involved at the battle at Arkansas Post, where the Rebels were under the command of General Church. They managed to take around 8000 Rebels prisoner.
On May 16, 1863 they were at the battle of Champion Hill, Miss.
In Nov. 1863, the unit took part in the battle at Missionary Ridge in southern Tennessee and northern Georgia.
In Dec. 1863 at Larkinville, Ala. they went into winter quarters and most of the men reenlisted for three more years or until the end of the war, and received new clothes. In Jan. 1864 they were then taken back to St. Louis where Mr. Campbell then took a 30 day furlough and went to his home near Vandalia, Ill. After his furlough he joined back up at Larkinville with his unit and was promoted to Orderly Sgt. They then went to Chattanooga joining General Sherman's Army on the Atlanta campaign.
The next battles were at Snake Creek Gap, followed by actions at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Ezra Chapel, and Jonesboro. The command then followed General Hood as far as Rome, Ga. On June 24, 1864 on the side of Kenesaw Mt. Sgt. Campbell's chum was killed. On July 5, 1864 Sgt. Campbell saw his brother, Robert for the first time since the War had broken out. Robert had enlisted in 1863.
During the summer of 1864 the unit started with Gen. Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea". On Dec. 13, 1864 the Division ( 2nd Div. 2nd Army Corp) took Fort McAllister. Gen. Sherman's Army tore up 40 miles of railroad. On Jan 1, 1865 they went into Savannah.
After this, in Feb. 1865 the Army began marching north where they marched through the Carolina's. They marched through Columbia on Feb. 17, 1865. The city burned. On March 20, 1865 we fought the battle of Bentonville. A few days later we were told that General Lee had surrendered.
They then marched into Raleigh, N. C. and while there were told that General Johnston had surrendered on April 26, 1865. One morning while taking the Company report to the Adjutant, an officer told Sgt. Campbell that President Lincoln had been killed.
In May 1865 the command then marched through Virginia and into Washington D. C. where they took part in the Grand Review. On May 26, 1865, Sgt. Campbell caught a glimpse of President Andrew Johnson while marching in the Grand Review.
On Aug. 17, 1865 First Sgt. Campbell received his discharge in St. Louis and arrived home on Sept.1,1865. Before being discharged, First Sgt. Campbell was offered a brevet Lieutenancy. This offer he turned down. Mr. Campbell served, four years and two months and was discharged as First Sergeant of his Company. During his months as a Sergeant Mr. Campbell received a pay of about $22.40 per month.
After the war Mr. Campbell resided in Vandalia, Ill. until 1867 when he moved to Minooka, Grundy County, Ill. and opened a harness shop.
He was married on Sept. 5, 1870 to Miss. Hannah Isabel "Belle" Gifford in her home town of Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio. She is a daughter of John N. and Martha R. (Messenger) Gifford. Their children are: Clara "Maud", Dora M., Hattie O., Robert W., Gertrude E. B., and John G.
Mr. Campbell is a member of Post No. 494 G. A. R.
(Much of the Civil War information comes from "Soldiers and Patriots Biographical Album" Union Veteran Publishing Co. 1892)
Walter John Campbell was born Jan 1, 1843 about 9 miles southeast of Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois to Robert and Nancy (Fogler) Campbell. In Oct. 1844 when Walter was not quite 2, his father died. In Jan. 1845 his mother gave birth to a second child which she named Robert.
At the age of 8 Walter's mother married Eli Schwarm in 1851.
Walter worked at farming and carpentry until the Civil War broke out.
With a group of 85 other men, Walter went to St. Louis, Mo. to enlist in the Union Army for three months, but instead enlisted for three years. On June 14, 1861, Walter enlisted in the 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company "C", quartered in the St. Louis Arsenal. Most of his training and drilling were done at Pilot Knob, Missouri until Sept. 1861 when he went back to St. Louis Arsenal and drew his first uniforms and his first pay of $8.00 per month.
From Dec. 1861 to April 1862 his unit went into winter quarters at Otterville, Mo. at Lamine River Bridge. He then marched to Jefferson City, Mo., then were taken by rail cars to St. Louis, then by boat down the Mississippi River and up the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers to Pittsburgh Landing. Here his unit was put into General Sherman's Division. His unit saw its first action in a skirmish in the spring of 1862 at Corinth where they lost some of their men. The summer and fall of 1862 were spent drilling and scouting. Then in Dec. 1862 they started overland with General Grant to Vicksburg. They were then taken by boats to Chickasaw Bayou, where they had their first hard battle. After losing a number of men, they were forced to retreat. Pvt. Campbell was reported killed during this battle as he became separated from his Company and fell in with Company "A". Upon reaching his own Company later in the day Pvt. Campbell recounted the names of those killed, among which his name was mentioned. So he spoke up and said, "Hold on there, not yet."
On Jan 11, 1863 at the mouth of the Arkansas River, they were involved at the battle at Arkansas Post, where the Rebels were under the command of General Church. They managed to take around 8000 Rebels prisoner.
On May 16, 1863 they were at the battle of Champion Hill, Miss.
In Nov. 1863, the unit took part in the battle at Missionary Ridge in southern Tennessee and northern Georgia.
In Dec. 1863 at Larkinville, Ala. they went into winter quarters and most of the men reenlisted for three more years or until the end of the war, and received new clothes. In Jan. 1864 they were then taken back to St. Louis where Mr. Campbell then took a 30 day furlough and went to his home near Vandalia, Ill. After his furlough he joined back up at Larkinville with his unit and was promoted to Orderly Sgt. They then went to Chattanooga joining General Sherman's Army on the Atlanta campaign.
The next battles were at Snake Creek Gap, followed by actions at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Ezra Chapel, and Jonesboro. The command then followed General Hood as far as Rome, Ga. On June 24, 1864 on the side of Kenesaw Mt. Sgt. Campbell's chum was killed. On July 5, 1864 Sgt. Campbell saw his brother, Robert for the first time since the War had broken out. Robert had enlisted in 1863.
During the summer of 1864 the unit started with Gen. Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea". On Dec. 13, 1864 the Division ( 2nd Div. 2nd Army Corp) took Fort McAllister. Gen. Sherman's Army tore up 40 miles of railroad. On Jan 1, 1865 they went into Savannah.
After this, in Feb. 1865 the Army began marching north where they marched through the Carolina's. They marched through Columbia on Feb. 17, 1865. The city burned. On March 20, 1865 we fought the battle of Bentonville. A few days later we were told that General Lee had surrendered.
They then marched into Raleigh, N. C. and while there were told that General Johnston had surrendered on April 26, 1865. One morning while taking the Company report to the Adjutant, an officer told Sgt. Campbell that President Lincoln had been killed.
In May 1865 the command then marched through Virginia and into Washington D. C. where they took part in the Grand Review. On May 26, 1865, Sgt. Campbell caught a glimpse of President Andrew Johnson while marching in the Grand Review.
On Aug. 17, 1865 First Sgt. Campbell received his discharge in St. Louis and arrived home on Sept.1,1865. Before being discharged, First Sgt. Campbell was offered a brevet Lieutenancy. This offer he turned down. Mr. Campbell served, four years and two months and was discharged as First Sergeant of his Company. During his months as a Sergeant Mr. Campbell received a pay of about $22.40 per month.
After the war Mr. Campbell resided in Vandalia, Ill. until 1867 when he moved to Minooka, Grundy County, Ill. and opened a harness shop.
He was married on Sept. 5, 1870 to Miss. Hannah Isabel "Belle" Gifford in her home town of Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio. She is a daughter of John N. and Martha R. (Messenger) Gifford. Their children are: Clara "Maud", Dora M., Hattie O., Robert W., Gertrude E. B., and John G.
Mr. Campbell is a member of Post No. 494 G. A. R.
(Much of the Civil War information comes from "Soldiers and Patriots Biographical Album" Union Veteran Publishing Co. 1892)
At the age of 8 Walter's mother married Eli Schwarm in 1851.
Walter worked at farming and carpentry until the Civil War broke out.
With a group of 85 other men, Walter went to St. Louis, Mo. to enlist in the Union Army for three months, but instead enlisted for three years. On June 14, 1861, Walter enlisted in the 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company "C", quartered in the St. Louis Arsenal. Most of his training and drilling were done at Pilot Knob, Missouri until Sept. 1861 when he went back to St. Louis Arsenal and drew his first uniforms and his first pay of $8.00 per month.
From Dec. 1861 to April 1862 his unit went into winter quarters at Otterville, Mo. at Lamine River Bridge. He then marched to Jefferson City, Mo., then were taken by rail cars to St. Louis, then by boat down the Mississippi River and up the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers to Pittsburgh Landing. Here his unit was put into General Sherman's Division. His unit saw its first action in a skirmish in the spring of 1862 at Corinth where they lost some of their men. The summer and fall of 1862 were spent drilling and scouting. Then in Dec. 1862 they started overland with General Grant to Vicksburg. They were then taken by boats to Chickasaw Bayou, where they had their first hard battle. After losing a number of men, they were forced to retreat. Pvt. Campbell was reported killed during this battle as he became separated from his Company and fell in with Company "A". Upon reaching his own Company later in the day Pvt. Campbell recounted the names of those killed, among which his name was mentioned. So he spoke up and said, "Hold on there, not yet."
On Jan 11, 1863 at the mouth of the Arkansas River, they were involved at the battle at Arkansas Post, where the Rebels were under the command of General Church. They managed to take around 8000 Rebels prisoner.
On May 16, 1863 they were at the battle of Champion Hill, Miss.
In Nov. 1863, the unit took part in the battle at Missionary Ridge in southern Tennessee and northern Georgia.
In Dec. 1863 at Larkinville, Ala. they went into winter quarters and most of the men reenlisted for three more years or until the end of the war, and received new clothes. In Jan. 1864 they were then taken back to St. Louis where Mr. Campbell then took a 30 day furlough and went to his home near Vandalia, Ill. After his furlough he joined back up at Larkinville with his unit and was promoted to Orderly Sgt. They then went to Chattanooga joining General Sherman's Army on the Atlanta campaign.
The next battles were at Snake Creek Gap, followed by actions at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Ezra Chapel, and Jonesboro. The command then followed General Hood as far as Rome, Ga. On June 24, 1864 on the side of Kenesaw Mt. Sgt. Campbell's chum was killed. On July 5, 1864 Sgt. Campbell saw his brother, Robert for the first time since the War had broken out. Robert had enlisted in 1863.
During the summer of 1864 the unit started with Gen. Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea". On Dec. 13, 1864 the Division ( 2nd Div. 2nd Army Corp) took Fort McAllister. Gen. Sherman's Army tore up 40 miles of railroad. On Jan 1, 1865 they went into Savannah.
After this, in Feb. 1865 the Army began marching north where they marched through the Carolina's. They marched through Columbia on Feb. 17, 1865. The city burned. On March 20, 1865 we fought the battle of Bentonville. A few days later we were told that General Lee had surrendered.
They then marched into Raleigh, N. C. and while there were told that General Johnston had surrendered on April 26, 1865. One morning while taking the Company report to the Adjutant, an officer told Sgt. Campbell that President Lincoln had been killed.
In May 1865 the command then marched through Virginia and into Washington D. C. where they took part in the Grand Review. On May 26, 1865, Sgt. Campbell caught a glimpse of President Andrew Johnson while marching in the Grand Review.
On Aug. 17, 1865 First Sgt. Campbell received his discharge in St. Louis and arrived home on Sept.1,1865. Before being discharged, First Sgt. Campbell was offered a brevet Lieutenancy. This offer he turned down. Mr. Campbell served, four years and two months and was discharged as First Sergeant of his Company. During his months as a Sergeant Mr. Campbell received a pay of about $22.40 per month.
After the war Mr. Campbell resided in Vandalia, Ill. until 1867 when he moved to Minooka, Grundy County, Ill. and opened a harness shop.
He was married on Sept. 5, 1870 to Miss. Hannah Isabel "Belle" Gifford in her home town of Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio. She is a daughter of John N. and Martha R. (Messenger) Gifford. Their children are: Clara "Maud", Dora M., Hattie O., Robert W., Gertrude E. B., and John G.
Mr. Campbell is a member of Post No. 494 G. A. R.
(Much of the Civil War information comes from "Soldiers and Patriots Biographical Album" Union Veteran Publishing Co. 1892)
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Co. C 6th Reg. Mo. Inf.
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