James Alexander Campbell (December 20, 1844 – May 6, 1904) was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army as a member of Companies A and C of the 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War.

[2][3] In describing Campbell's patriotism and valor, Union Major-General Philip Sheridan said, "This country will never know how much it owes to James A.

Military records at the time described him as a native of New York who was employed as a seaman, and was 5'6" tall with light hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.

[7][8] Following time in winter quarters, Campbell saw his next period of increased activity beginning with regimental operations at Rappahannock Station on April 14, 1863.

Engaged in Stoneman's raid|Stoneman's Raid from April 27 to May 8, the 2nd New York Cavalry's assignments during this phase of duty included: Louisa Court House (May 2), Ashland and Hanover Station (May 3), Glen Allen (May 4), Aylett's (May 5), King and Queen Court House and Centreville (May 6), and Morrisville (May 10).

Ordered to Carrollton's Store on March 11, they then engaged in the Rapidan Campaign from May to June, operating at Craig's Meeting House and Todd's Tavern (May 5–6), the Wilderness (May 6–7) and Alsop's Farm, Spottsylvania (May 8).

Engaged in Wilson's Raid to the south and along the Danville Railroad from June 22 to 30, they ended this phase of service at Ream's Station July 3.

[7][9] But it was during Sheridan's Raid from Winchester, which took place from February 27 through March 25, 1865, that Campbell was assigned to the scouting and spy duties which would ultimately earn him his Medal of Honor, according to Mark Roth, the former assistant managing editor of Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette:[12][13] With nothing on but their dripping undershirts, [Archibald] Rowand and Campbell [had ridden 145 miles and hiked 11], until they encountered a detachment of Union troops near Harrison's Landing on the James River [where they had been ordered to proceed in order to deliver critical intelligence information to General Ulysses S. Grant]....Tucked inside Campbell's cheek, wrapped inside a ball of foil, was a strip of tissue paper with important tactical information from Sheridan.... As Grant and his party sat down for a late supper at City Point, Va., on that Sunday evening, a waiter came into the mess room and told Grant that a man was outside who wanted to see him and him only.... After Porter took Campbell's message to Grant, the general began to question him.... [Afterward], they gratefully accepted clean clothing and real beds.

The next day, they were given fresh horses and uniforms, and set out to meet up with Sheridan at White House, Va.According to later newspaper accounts of his life, Campbell "[was] said to have furnished the general with information which led to the winning of the battle at Winchester.

[23] Following his death at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on May 6, 1904,[24][25] Campbell was laid to rest with full military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

[27] Following her death on August 7, 1943, his widow, Martha, was then laid to rest beside him at Arlington, as were his daughters, Alma and Blanche, when they died, respectively, in 1980 and 1987.