Campbell's Company: Company E, 1st Cavalry, 7th Division, Missouri State Guard
Taken from History of Greene County, Missouri 1883, R. I. Holcombe, Editing Historian (https://thelibrary.org/lochist/history/holcombe/grch11pt1.html)
RE-ORGANIZATION OF PRICE'S ARMY.
Relieved by the inactivity of the Federal forces elsewhere, and encouraged by the promise of re-inforcements from Arkansas under McCulloch and McIntosh, Gen. Price had concentrated at Springfield with the intention of remaining here all winter. His army had become reduced considerably since the time of the capture of Lexington, when it numbered nearly 20,000, and now consisted of only about 15,000. The reduction was occasioned by desertions, furloughs, death, and transfers. At Springfield began the re-organization of the army. As fast as the term of enlistment of the Missouri State Guards expired they were induced to enter the regular Confederate States service. The original term of service of the State Guards was for six months, and the most of them had enlisted in June and July; in December and January, therefore, their times had expired and the most of them were enlisted in the regular Confederate army for three years, or during the war.
In the camps at Springfield, during the month of January, a great deal of re-organizing was done. Day after day was spent in drumming for recruits and in completing or attempting to complete the organization of companies and regiments. Campbell's Greene county company dated its service from the 11th of June, 1861, and its time expired in December.1 It was prompt to enlist in the Confederate service.
CAPT. CAMPBELL'S COMPANY.
The company alluded to in these pages as Capt. Dick Campbell's deserves fuller mention than can be made of it here. It was one of the best that served under the flag of the stars and bars. The company was first organized in May, 1861, under Gov. Jackson's military bill for service in the Missouri State Guard. The first organization was effected at the head of Clear Creek, near Springfield, as before mentioned.
Leonidas St. Clair Campbell (called "Dick") was chosen captain; James McSpadden, 1st lieutenant; Thomas Weaver, 2d lieutenant; Ben Hardin, 3d lieutenant; John A. Blanchard, orderly sergeant. The company numbered about 126 men. It was armed chiefly with double-barreled shot-guns and revolvers, although some of the men had carbines and rifles.
Dr. A. S. H. Boyd, now of Carrsville, Ky., was a member of Campbell's company and served through the war, coming to Missouri from California to fight for his native South. Since the foregoing was put in type the doctor writes that the original company was composed of a squad recruited by L. S. Campbell, in the neighborhood of Ash Grove, and a squad recruited by Col. L. A. Campbell. Some of the members of the old original company were Thompson Brown, Sam J. Campbell, Rev. P. S. Wilkes (afterwards a member of the Confederate Congress), Geo. W. Jones, James Jones, T. C. Frazier, Fayette Frazier, Wm. Butler, Marion Fulbright, James Blakey, Christopher Bodenhammer, John Weatherford, John Thaxton (killed at Corinth,), Henry Parbury, Penn Wilson, Ned White, Louis Brashears and A. S. H. Boyd.
Soon after its organization Capt. Campbell's command left Greene county, there being too many Union Home Guards here, and it was not desirable to fight against old neighbors and friends. It went in June into the southern part of Taney county, or just into Arkansas, where it camped two weeks or more. Then it marched to Gen. Price on the Cowskin prairie, McDonald county. Here it joined the Missouri army and accompanied it to Cassville, from thence to Crane creek, and on to Dug Springs and Wilson's creek. From Cassville to Wilson's creek the company was in the advance guard of Gen. Rains' division. At the Dug Springs fight the company was engaged and in the retreat one of the members, Fulbright, a young man, fleshy and plethoric, had his horse shot. Running on foot to escape, he became overheated or was sunstruck and died. W. J. Frazier, another member of the company, was slightly wounded. At Wilson's Creek the company was engaged as hitherto described. Lotspeich's company, another Greene county organization but with many members from Stone and Taney counties, was with Campbell's at Wilson's Creek.
The next day after the battle of Wilson's Creek, Campbell's company came into Springfield as Gen. Price's escort. Here it remained during the first Confederate occupation, only a few of the members going to Lexington. During the winter of 1861 the company was re-organized. James McSpadden was elected captain; Jack Luck, 1st lieutenant; Louis Brashears, 2d lieutenant; William Merritt, 3d lieutenant; William Perkins, orderly.
The company received some new recruits in January and February, 1862, and accompanied Price's army when it left the county on the approach of Curtis and Sigel. It fought at Pea Ridge, and afterwards was sent east of the Mississippi and joined Beauregard's army at Corinth. It remained in Mississippi during 1862 and participated in the battles of Iuka and Corinth. At the desperate assault on Corinth, Oct. 4, 1862 the Greene county company lost just half its members killed and wounded. Among the latter were Capt. McSpadden and Lieut. Brashears. The company was in the Vicksburg Campaign, and surrendered with Pemberton's army to Gen. Grant.
After the fall of Vicksburg the company never again was united. Some of the members stayed east of the Mississippi; others recrossed the river and joined Marmaduke and Shelby, and participated in Price's last raid into Missouri. A few fought under Sid. Jackman, and other irregular organizations.
During their term of service the members of the original organization of Campbell's company, either as that company, or belonging to another, participated in the engagements at Wilson's Creek, Dug Springs, Crane Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Missouri; Cane Hill and Elk Horn, Ark.; Iuka, Corinth, Saltillo, Baker's Creek or Champion Hill, Big Black, Grand Gulf, and Vicksburg, Miss.; Spring Hill, Duck River, and Franklin Tennessee; in all the battles fought by Joe Johnston in the Georgia campaign in 1864, and the survivors surrendered at Mobile, Ala. in the last battle of the war east of the Mississippi.
The old company was often complimented for good conduct on the battlefield by Gens. McBride, Rains, Bowen, Price and Joe Johnston. It fought well and lost largely in killed and wounded, and those who were left to return home made as good citizens as they did soldiers.
The remainder of the time the Confederate army spent in Greene county was employed in drilling the men and scouting. Expeditions were sent out from time to time in order to keep the men employed and to procure forage and such things as the army stood in need of. The white tents of the soldiers covered all the unoccupied ground in and about Springfield, and posts were established at Ebenezer, Bois d'Arc, and other points in the county.
Taken from History of Greene County, Missouri 1883, R. I. Holcombe, Editing Historian (https://thelibrary.org/lochist/history/holcombe/grch11pt1.html)
RE-ORGANIZATION OF PRICE'S ARMY.
Relieved by the inactivity of the Federal forces elsewhere, and encouraged by the promise of re-inforcements from Arkansas under McCulloch and McIntosh, Gen. Price had concentrated at Springfield with the intention of remaining here all winter. His army had become reduced considerably since the time of the capture of Lexington, when it numbered nearly 20,000, and now consisted of only about 15,000. The reduction was occasioned by desertions, furloughs, death, and transfers. At Springfield began the re-organization of the army. As fast as the term of enlistment of the Missouri State Guards expired they were induced to enter the regular Confederate States service. The original term of service of the State Guards was for six months, and the most of them had enlisted in June and July; in December and January, therefore, their times had expired and the most of them were enlisted in the regular Confederate army for three years, or during the war.
In the camps at Springfield, during the month of January, a great deal of re-organizing was done. Day after day was spent in drumming for recruits and in completing or attempting to complete the organization of companies and regiments. Campbell's Greene county company dated its service from the 11th of June, 1861, and its time expired in December.1 It was prompt to enlist in the Confederate service.
CAPT. CAMPBELL'S COMPANY.
The company alluded to in these pages as Capt. Dick Campbell's deserves fuller mention than can be made of it here. It was one of the best that served under the flag of the stars and bars. The company was first organized in May, 1861, under Gov. Jackson's military bill for service in the Missouri State Guard. The first organization was effected at the head of Clear Creek, near Springfield, as before mentioned.
Leonidas St. Clair Campbell (called "Dick") was chosen captain; James McSpadden, 1st lieutenant; Thomas Weaver, 2d lieutenant; Ben Hardin, 3d lieutenant; John A. Blanchard, orderly sergeant. The company numbered about 126 men. It was armed chiefly with double-barreled shot-guns and revolvers, although some of the men had carbines and rifles.
Dr. A. S. H. Boyd, now of Carrsville, Ky., was a member of Campbell's company and served through the war, coming to Missouri from California to fight for his native South. Since the foregoing was put in type the doctor writes that the original company was composed of a squad recruited by L. S. Campbell, in the neighborhood of Ash Grove, and a squad recruited by Col. L. A. Campbell. Some of the members of the old original company were Thompson Brown, Sam J. Campbell, Rev. P. S. Wilkes (afterwards a member of the Confederate Congress), Geo. W. Jones, James Jones, T. C. Frazier, Fayette Frazier, Wm. Butler, Marion Fulbright, James Blakey, Christopher Bodenhammer, John Weatherford, John Thaxton (killed at Corinth,), Henry Parbury, Penn Wilson, Ned White, Louis Brashears and A. S. H. Boyd.
Soon after its organization Capt. Campbell's command left Greene county, there being too many Union Home Guards here, and it was not desirable to fight against old neighbors and friends. It went in June into the southern part of Taney county, or just into Arkansas, where it camped two weeks or more. Then it marched to Gen. Price on the Cowskin prairie, McDonald county. Here it joined the Missouri army and accompanied it to Cassville, from thence to Crane creek, and on to Dug Springs and Wilson's creek. From Cassville to Wilson's creek the company was in the advance guard of Gen. Rains' division. At the Dug Springs fight the company was engaged and in the retreat one of the members, Fulbright, a young man, fleshy and plethoric, had his horse shot. Running on foot to escape, he became overheated or was sunstruck and died. W. J. Frazier, another member of the company, was slightly wounded. At Wilson's Creek the company was engaged as hitherto described. Lotspeich's company, another Greene county organization but with many members from Stone and Taney counties, was with Campbell's at Wilson's Creek.
The next day after the battle of Wilson's Creek, Campbell's company came into Springfield as Gen. Price's escort. Here it remained during the first Confederate occupation, only a few of the members going to Lexington. During the winter of 1861 the company was re-organized. James McSpadden was elected captain; Jack Luck, 1st lieutenant; Louis Brashears, 2d lieutenant; William Merritt, 3d lieutenant; William Perkins, orderly.
The company received some new recruits in January and February, 1862, and accompanied Price's army when it left the county on the approach of Curtis and Sigel. It fought at Pea Ridge, and afterwards was sent east of the Mississippi and joined Beauregard's army at Corinth. It remained in Mississippi during 1862 and participated in the battles of Iuka and Corinth. At the desperate assault on Corinth, Oct. 4, 1862 the Greene county company lost just half its members killed and wounded. Among the latter were Capt. McSpadden and Lieut. Brashears. The company was in the Vicksburg Campaign, and surrendered with Pemberton's army to Gen. Grant.
After the fall of Vicksburg the company never again was united. Some of the members stayed east of the Mississippi; others recrossed the river and joined Marmaduke and Shelby, and participated in Price's last raid into Missouri. A few fought under Sid. Jackman, and other irregular organizations.
During their term of service the members of the original organization of Campbell's company, either as that company, or belonging to another, participated in the engagements at Wilson's Creek, Dug Springs, Crane Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Missouri; Cane Hill and Elk Horn, Ark.; Iuka, Corinth, Saltillo, Baker's Creek or Champion Hill, Big Black, Grand Gulf, and Vicksburg, Miss.; Spring Hill, Duck River, and Franklin Tennessee; in all the battles fought by Joe Johnston in the Georgia campaign in 1864, and the survivors surrendered at Mobile, Ala. in the last battle of the war east of the Mississippi.
The old company was often complimented for good conduct on the battlefield by Gens. McBride, Rains, Bowen, Price and Joe Johnston. It fought well and lost largely in killed and wounded, and those who were left to return home made as good citizens as they did soldiers.
The remainder of the time the Confederate army spent in Greene county was employed in drilling the men and scouting. Expeditions were sent out from time to time in order to keep the men employed and to procure forage and such things as the army stood in need of. The white tents of the soldiers covered all the unoccupied ground in and about Springfield, and posts were established at Ebenezer, Bois d'Arc, and other points in the county.