James Hamilton Campbell was born in 1845 in Searcy County, Arkansas. At the start of the Civil War, Campbell was only 16 years old when his father raised a company for Confederate service. Young Campbell was against secession and intially thought he would fight to preserve the Union. But Campbell changed his mind and enlisted in Company F, 27th Arkansas Infantry in May 1862. During his first encounter with Union cavalry, Campbell fell of his horse and broke his arm. Campbell survived the encounter but was discharged from service so his arm would mend.
During Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri, Campbell was serving in Company F, 14th Missouri Cavalry Battalion (CSA) commanded by Lt. Col. Robert C. Wood. The regiment was part of Marmaduke's Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Clark, Jr. Campbell was part of the Confederate force that unsuccessfully attacked Fort Davidson. Campbell fought at the Little Blue River and then held off the Federal advance late night after the Second battle of Independence. He fought at Byram's Ford on Sunday, October 23, 1864. After the Bttle of Mine Creek, Campbell was one of the only 52 out of over 400 troopers from his battalion who got away.
After the war, Campbell surrendered with his battalion in June 1865, after which he returned home to Arkansas. Less than a year later, Campbell moved his family to Springfield, Missouri. He moved to St. Louis in 1872 and found work in the stockyards. Five years later, he went into business for himself, buying and selling cattle. Campbell moved his business to Chicago in 1886. In addition to cattle, Campbell got into real estate while in Chicago.
Johnston, James J. “Reminiscence of James H. Campbell’s Experiences during the Civil War.” Arkansas Historical Quarterly 74, no. 2 (June 2015): 147–77.