Does anyone have any info on William Campbell of Ohio, who was hung in
Atlanta, Georgia on June 7, 1862, for his part in "The Great Locomotive
Chase"? He was apparently the only civilian volunteer in the group that's
become known as the Andrew's Raiders. When captured by the Confederates he
claimed to be in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was the unit many
of his "hometown buddies" were in. Prior to the Civil War he was a crewman
on river barges bringing coal down from Pittsburgh, and he spent a year
keeping a house of "ill-fame" in Louisville just before the chase.
According to the book titled after the chase, he had a brother named John,
but very little is known/published about him. My g-grandmother grew up
hearing hearing this story and was told that William was her grandfather,
Harvey Campbell's brother. Harvey was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio in 1843,
but lived most of his life in Jefferson Co., Ohio. Any insights, help will
be greatly appreciated!
Barbara Richardson
barbarar(a)swain.main.nc.us