The Washington Post, Friday, March 13, 1936.

Maj. Campbell ‘City Defender’ In '64, Is Buried

Taps Sound at Ft. Stevens for Last of Force Which Checked Gen. Early.

Final Tribute Paid to Hero of '64
General view of the burial of Maj. Edward R. Campbell, sole survivor of the Battle of Fort Stevens
which took place yesterday in Fort Stevens Cemetery.

Taps shrilled through the rain-laden air at Fort Stevens yesterday for Maj. Edward R. Campbell, sole known survivor of the Union Army that drove Gen. Jubal Early and his Confederate raiders from the gates of Washington almost 72 years ago.

The 92-year-old veteran, who died of pneumonia at Mount Alto Hospital Tuesday, was buried with full military honors. From rifles more deadly and modern than any of which he and his companions in blue could conceive, a squad of infantry from the Sixteenth Brigade sent three volleys cracking up into leaden skies.

Maj. Campbell was the first veteran to be buried at Fort Stevens since the night after the battle. July 12. 1864. When Gen. Early and his ragged, hungry troops had retreated toward Rockville the defenders of the fort found time to bury the 40 men killed in action in hastily dug graves.

To Maj. Campbell fell the task of assisting in the last rites for his fallen comrades. Then the President of the United States —Abraham Lincoln— issued an order declaring the fort a National Cemetery where only veterans at the battle might be buried.

But most of the men who had fought there beneath a blazing sun that July day when President Lincoln himself was under fire were Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania residents. And when the war closed they returned to their homes. Not another defender of Fort Stevens was buried on the site of the heroic struggle until yesterday.

Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes might have been buried there after his death last year. But the justice was buried in Arlington, beside his wife.

Brief services for Maj. Campbell were held in the Speare undertaking establishment, 1009 H street, at 2 p. m and then the funeral procession moved through the downpour to the fort, where the khaki clad troops awaited in ponchos.

One detachment lifted the flag-draped casket from the hearse and another formed the guard or honor. Representatives of the G. A. R., the Sons of Union Veterans and their auxiliaries accompanied Maj. Campbell's daughter, Mr.. A. B. Goodrich with whom he lived at 30 Elm avenue, Takoma Park and his granddaughter, Mrs. Marion G. Nevitt.

Dr. James, G. Eggleston, of the Sons of Union Veterans, who had talked at the rites at Speare's, also spoke at the grave.

Then came crisp orders from the young officer commanding the firing squad — orders as firm as those which were barked that day so long ago when Gen. Early retreated.

The salute rattled, taps sounded, and Fort Stevens had seen its first —and probably its last— military funeral since the battle that saved Washington from capture.