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"Him on the One Side and Me on the Other" The Civil War Letters of Alexander Campbell, 79th New York Infantry Regiment, and James Campbell, 1st South Carolina Battalion
Edited by Tells the remarkable story of a family and a nation torn by war
6 x 9, 190 pages |
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ABOUT THE BOOKAlexander and James Campbell, born and raised in Scotland, immigrated to the United States as teenagers in the 1850s and settled in vastly different regions of the country—Alexander in New York City and James in Charleston, South Carolina. When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Alexander and James opted to fight for their adopted states and causes: Alexander enlisted in the 79th New York "Highlanders" and James in the 1st South Carolina ("Charleston") Battalion. "Him on the One Side and Me on the Other" tells the remarkable story of these two brothers divided by the Civil War. Through their wartime letters to family and to each other, the brothers expose the deep fractures in American society caused by the most destructive war in this country's history. In this moving chronicle, Terry A. Johnston, Jr., follows the brothers as they endure the hardships of war and react to their plight. Alexander accompanied his regiment on campaigns through Virginia, South Carolina, and Kentucky; was wounded in battle while bearing the regimental colors; and resigned in 1863 after two years of service. James served with distinction near Charleston, was captured at the Battle of Battery Wagner in July 1863, and spent the final two years of the war in three northern prisons. In the most dramatic moment in this story of the brothers' wartime experiences, the letters reveal a near-reunion on the battlefield of Secessionville, South Carolina, on June 16, 1862. There Alexander was part of the Union force that assaulted Tower Battery, a fort inhabited by James and his Confederate comrades. "Him on the One Side and Me on the Other" tells the Campbell brothers' wartime story as recorded in nearly eighty letters. Their correspondence is a vivid reminder that the Civil War was, in the words of Alexander Campbell, "a warr that there never was the Like of before Brother against Brother."
ABOUT THE EDITORTerry A. Johnston, Jr. is a graduate of Tufts University, received a master's degree in history from Clemson University and will begin the doctoral program in history at the University of Delaware in Newark this fall.
REVIEWS"This remarkable and stunning account helps us to better understand the principles and motivation that inspired both these brothers to take up arms for their respective countries as well as against each other. The author's masterful decision to let these two brothers tell of their strikingly shared experiences is the real strength of this wonderful book."—Military and BRAVO/Veterans Outlook Magazine"Overall, what the editor has provided is a unique view of brothers who not only served on opposite sides of the conflict, but actually fought against each other in the battle of Secessionville."—Charleston Post & Courier "Johnston's presentation of the Campbell letters is well organized, researched, and documented."—North Carolina Historical Review
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