17 Facts About Campbell Slemp

Campbell Slemp was a farmer and Confederate officer in southwest Virginia who became a Readjuster Democrat after Congressional Reconstruction and served in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Campbell Slemp eventually joined the Republican Party and won election to the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th congressional district and controlled federal patronage in the Commonwealth from 1903 to 1907.

Slemp died unexpectedly at home while in office, after which his son C Bascom Slemp succeeded to the seat for more than a decade, until being ousted by the rising Byrd Organization.

Campbell Slemp attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Washington County, Virginia.

Campbell Slemp left when his father Sebastian Slemp died in 1859.

Campbell Slemp married Nancy Brittain Cawood on July 25,1861.

Campbell Slemp rose in rank from captain to lieutenant colonel and finally colonel on December 14,1862.

At Pound Gap in nearby Wise County, Virginia, Campbell Slemp was among the Confederates opposed by Union Col.

Campbell Slemp was convicted of dereliction of duty on November 7,1863, at a court martial in January 1864, was removed from command and dismissed from the army.

Campbell Slemp hurt his own cause by slipping house arrest in Abington to return home.

Nonetheless, Campbell Slemp remained a loyal Confederate throughout the war, surrendering after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

Campbell Slemp received his parole at the Cumberland Gap in Tennessee on May 2,1865, with others of the 64th Virginia.

Campbell Slemp became politically involved in the Readjuster Party, aligning with former Confederate General William Mahone who was consolidating railroads in Virginia and Tennessee.

Campbell Slemp unsuccessfully ran for the state senate in 1883.

Campbell Slemp made an unsuccessful bid for Lieutenant Governor on Mahone's ticket in 1889, which lost badly.

Campbell Slemp died unexpectedly at his home at Big Stone Gap in Wise County, Virginia on Sunday, October 13,1907.

The younger Campbell Slemp served as the United States representative for the 9th district of Virginia from 1907 to 1922, and established the Campbell Slemp Foundation as well as the Southwest Virginia Museum.