The Family Papers of
VERA CAMPBELL

Mr. Carl Cofer writes - November 16, 2004

The attached were found in the family papers of Vera Campbell; my cousin.
My grandmother was a Campbell - She was married to Ruben James Cook.
They were all from Old Campbell County Families.

I thought this poem, writing at the time, could fill in the gaps of anyone putting
together their family history.

Regards, Carl Cofer.

(The Webmaster Notes;  This is such a very special writing, and I feel so very blessed that Carl has shared this remarkable work with us all.  He is absolutely correct in his assessments, this is a piece of work to be cherished, not only for the time, but for all times.  I certainly imagine this to be included as a source in a lot of family histories.  Thank you so very much Carl for sharing this with us.  This truly made my today when this arrived today). 

The following is a poem written by Mrs. G. C. Lyndon (her maiden name is unknown) in 1866 as a school assignment in composition.  It has the true ring of poetry in it, and will bring to the memory of readers the gallant boys of Campbell, who fell in defense of the lost cause.

This was reprinted at the request of Mrs. J. C. Landrum, Granddaughter of William Dailey.  A copy of this was found in the Dailey Family Bible. 

The Slain of Campbell

"Bartow Invincibles" -- Company C., 25th Georgia Regiment

We twine a wreath for Campbell

A chaplet bravely won,
of Laurel Leaf and Living green,
To crown her noble sons.

When, Long years since, the bended bow
was sent throughout the Land,
From cottage homes and hearth stones dear,
come forth that spartan band.

Neaved, by the purest sense of right,
In God they put their trust,
and ask ed nor more to urge them on
Than this; the cause was just.

And thought might was triumphant,
and history's records tell,
No less the honor due to those
Who in the struggle fell.

Foremost to gain the noble palm
that Liberty awards,
Came forth that band of heroes,
The "Campbell County Guards".

When war with noble hero blood
Hand drenched upon our Southern Land,
The "Bartow Invincibles" arose,
To meet the opposing band.

When June was making glad the earth
In the hot contested strife,
Captain Henry, at Mechabickville,
Gave up his noble Life.

Upon the same ensanguined field,
With our banners waving high,
The brave Lieutenant Roberts,
Also laid him down to die,

Lieutenant C. E. Condor,
On Manassas' bloody plain,
And Lieutenant Kidd, at Fredericksburg,
Were numbered with the slain.

At Evansport, Virginia,
With no loving friends to cheer,
Z. L. Howard and A. J. Neeley
Died in the winter, cold and drear.

And soon beside them in the valley,
Were lain to rest till time shall cease,
W. Y. and Joel Dailey,
May their spirits rest in peace.

When, spring with gentle, dewey fingers,
The winter's frosts and snows had hid,
Died away in honored Richmond,
W. J. Kelley and John E. Kidd.

William Dailey joined them soon,
T. M. Langston and Richard, too,
And Joel Lane and R. P. Davis
All have passed from mortal view.

At Seven Pines, in balmy May,
Among the gallant slain,
John Jennings on the field was found,
W. Scellars and John A. Lane.

M. V. Jennings and H. L. Ridgeway
Died our Liberties to gain,
And in Lynchburg, Lone and dreary
William Davenport and R. O. Lane.

Died in Virginia's sacred borders,
W. R. Armor and Arthur Bell,
Milledge Kidd and A. J. Parker,
W,  Leatherwood and J. P. Shell.

J. Petty died at Fredericksburg,
'Mid the dust, smoke and gloom,
Frank Cook and John A. Dailey,
At their own Loved Southern homes.

S. Henderson, at Fredericksburg

While the springtime zephyrs wooed,
'Mid the classic shades of ashland,
W. J. R. Leatherwood.

C. Davenport died in prison,
Far away from friends and home;
J. M. Kidd and A. L. Miller,
also shared his fearful doom.

When on the earth her gorgeous robe
The summer bright had cast,
Afar in Danville Hospital, his last.

No Loved one nigh to soothe his way,
No voice to whisper words of cheer,
And guide the fainting spirit up
To Heaven, serene and dear.

And far among the rocky crags,
Of old Virginia's rough defiles,
Died, in the springtime of his life,
The gallant Louis Miles.

E. Hester Lays at Frasier's farm,
S. Dailey at Cedar Run;
U. Jeffries at Manassas;
At Richmond, John C. Brown.

At Petersbug, Virginia,
Jesse Ricks and Elliott Moore,
and W. Ricks at the Wilderness,
When the fearful strife was o'er.

From the rocky hills of Gettsburg,
M. C. Roberts and Joel Hearn,
W. J. Smith and B. F. Parnell
Will never, never more return.

And on the same most fatal day,
Crowned with honor's priceless need,
Fell, in the glory of his youth,
the brave young Calvin Steed.

T. M. Shannon and J. O. Langston,
On Spotsylvania's blood-bought field,
And A. D. Daniel, at Petersburg,
To the monster, death, did yield.

In the fearful strife at Fredericksburg
Fell the gallant R. H. Reeves,
J. H. Kidd and S. H. Brown,
for whom their loved ones grieve.

John W. Neeley at Cedar Run,
by the brooklets gentle flow,
And S. Davenport at Frasier's farm,
Fell battling with the foe.

And now we've mentioned all the names
From gallant Company C.
Who offered up their precious lives,
on the shrine of Liberty.

The need of glory covers them,
Let us no longer weep;
They'll Live high on the hills of Heaven;
They are not dead but sleep.

No braver soldiers ever fought
Ours sunny Land to save,
No nobler heroes ever filled
Beloved and honored graves.

In years to come their precious names,
May all forgotten be,
But honored still their deeds shall be,
Throughout eternity.

Now they fill their lowly graves,
Though hallowed still by tenderest love,
They've entered through the golden gates,
Into the paradise above.

Around the throne they joyful throng,
And rest with the angelic band,
'Mid pastures green and waters still,
Within the peaceful heavenly land.

May He, without whose blessed care,
Not e'en a sparrow falls,
Watch o'er and guide and guard us here
Till to Himself He calls.

Us, weary, panting from "the heat
And burden" of our way,
Up to the blissful realms above,
To dwell with Him for aye.

The following article appeared in the Newspaper in April of 1954 along with a picture of Mrs. E. D. Rainwater (Granny) holding Kathy Dailey.

"RUN, LITTLE GIRL"
Granny, 97, Recalls Yank Cannon Fire

Mrs. E. D. Rainwater, known affectionately to all her friends as Granny, will be "just" 97 years old Tuesday.  And she has spent every single year in Fulton County.

Sitting in her wheelchair with her Bible and her 100th great-grandchild on her lap, Granny said Monday she could remember back when the "Yankees were shelling Campbelltown." 

Her parents operated a hotel there when she was six years old.  Just a few old buildings with cannon ball holes in them remain in the once thriving Chattahoochee River town.

"My Mother had sent me on an errand," Granny said.  "As I was on the way, the bullets started buzzing all around.  Some men came running past and said' 'Run , little girl, run.'  "I ran;" she recalled.

Mrs. Rainwater has been a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church for 75 years.

"Since I can't go to church anymore, the preachers come to see me," she said.  They bring her a message and take one away with them.

"one of my favorite preachers is M. D. Collins," she said.  "He was pastor of my church many years ago."  Dr. Collins is now State Superintendent of Schools. 

One of her sons gave her a new Bible back in 1938.  Granny has now read it through 10 times since then.

"No, I don't know how many times I have read the entire Bible through," she said.  "But I have read it many times to my children and grandchildren.  All of them read it too," she said.

Granny has 10 children now living, she had 12 in all.  And she has 65 grandchildren, 103 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. 

Just about everyone in south Fulton county knows her.  She has lived within a radius of three miles all her life.  And she has lived in her present home on Clark Road for 50 years.

She was married to E. D. Rainwater for 69 years before his death in 1944. 

Now that she is confined to a wheelchair, Granny spends her time reading her Bible and postcards she gets from all her friends.  She also crochets "Bible Markers" in the shape of the cross.  She has made about 200 of these.

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"All Rights Reserved" to Submitter.
C) 2004