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Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned: Big Bethel, Virginia; Falls Church, Virginia
Historical Figures:
[Image of the U.S. Capitol]
U.S. Capitol.
Washington D.C. Sept. 29th 1861
Dear Mary:
“I am well.”
Before this reaches you, you will get all kinds of reports
about last nights proceedings but you will not get the
truth. unless by accident so I will give you a history of
the last twenty four hours as it comprises also my first
experience of the whistle of musket balls and the smell
of government powder. Last night at dark the order
came to prepare to march with two days rations we were
soon under motion with a number Regiments of Inty.
and a pile of Artillery how much of either I do not
know we took the road toward Falls Church which is
five miles distant it took us untill about two oclock
this morning to get three miles. it is dubious marching
into an enemies country by night I assure you and
beside we passed through some of the best country for an
ambush that could be made we all knew and felt
it and probably that helped in no small degree the
catastrophe that ensued. another Big Bethel affair.
It was not far from three oclock bright beautiful moon
light. we were marching along with skirmishers out
on both sides and a regiment of Infantry in front
through a thick wood (I should say in front of the
Mich. and N.H. Co.s of S.S.) when suddenly there was
a halt and a break down the lines in front like as
though there was a change of cavalry and many says
there was but I see none and think there was none. the
next instant the leaden missiles flew like hail upon us
from our own skirmishers both sides of the road
Oct. 1
st
then the infantry in front turned and fired into their own
ranks killing several and wounding many more. all broke
for the wood the infantry firing and throwing there muskets
away. the S.S. did not fire their pieces because we could not
see any thing to fire at our third Corporal Byron Brewer
from Kent county was the only man left in the road. I
left the woods for the open fields where our second Lieut.
tried to form our Co. about a dozen of us fell in and
started for woods again we had gone but a few rods
when the firing commenced harden than before we crept
under the fence and lay there untill it was over. Brewer
as I afterward learned formed the remainder of the
co. and led them into the second fire. when he came out
he said he could not be
[ ? ] to go back again
The artillery was immediately planted to sweep the
road and in about five minutes a solitary gun was fired
back in the rear nearly half a mile from where I stood
one might have counted thirty then three or four more
followed braking out sharp and clear. my first thought
was we were surrounded and had got to have a pretty
sharp brush with the rebels in an instant a thousand locks
clicked and the leaden rain flew thicker then before I
was determined to have a shot this time and sprang to find
a place to overlook the scene of conflict then for the
first time I heard an order it was dont fire, they are our
friends. had the order been delayed a moment some man
death would have been with me I think.
I commenced this letter Sunday night after we returned
to camp but was too tired to finish it the next morning
we were ordered back to our old camp at Washington
We got our tents pitched at ten oclock and you had better
believe I turned in tired enough to keep still.
Yours of the twenty first with those flowers was received
many thanks.
I will tell you what it means about my riding with Maria
that night that you though I was gone to Barnards to sleep
I went and got a horse and buggy came up and took
in Maria Fifield. we went down nearly to Grandville and
and back it was one oclock when I came home. one other
night just before I came away (I forget which night it was)
we were out about two
oclock or three hours. what my object was
if I could see you I would tell you but dont wish to write
it. there is one thing you must not think it was
if you do you will be mistaken however the first time
she said she thought you were going I asked her if she
wanted you to go and she said no. I told her I wished
she would not say any thing riding with her for if the
folks found it out they would bore me about it. I thought
she would tell of it. one night when Anna said
said some thing
I forgot what it was. I thought she had found it out but
if was some thing else if it is not plain and there is
any thing more you would like to know write me and I
will tell you all I can remember for I had as
[ ? ] you
would know all about it as not.
I have just been over to the eight Mich. to see David
he is tough and hearty they are camped a mile or so from
where we are. I think we will go back over the river
in a short time. I think we will have to have a new
Captain ours that we have wee do not like. Maria wrote
to Billy that if I did not come back before three years
you would not be alive that you was so sick you would not
go to school. and now Mary I want you to be cheerful and not
pay any attention to reports no matter what they are do not
any one to talk to you too much about your private of-
fairs and keep on as good
as good terms with all as you possibly can
I send a few kisses and will bring you more by and by
With much love. Yours truly Gardner B. Clark
[On Envelope:]
Miss Mary J. Baxter
Grand Rapids
Michigan
(Box 450)
