Clark, Gardner B. – July 5, 1862

Michigan Civil War Collection


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/clark-gardner-b/
Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: George A. McCall, George B. McClellan, Nathaniel P. Banks, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson Camp near City Point Va July 5th 1862 My Own Mary. Many and varied are the scenes I have passed through since the sun dawned on the morning of Thursday the 26th of June. With that day we the great Army of the Potomac began a retreat that in all the [ ? ]of [ ? ] or past history has been nor will be equaled. when I heard of Banks masterly retreat from the Shenandoah Valley. I called it the best ever made but McClellan has eclipsed that. Throughout the North you can not know the particulars of our eight days retreat and fighting. I will endeavor to tell you a part of what I know Thursday morning I volunteered for Picket, took along my writing material intending to write you as we were to stay out two days. I omited to write in the forenoon and it is just as well, for Brewer wrote some and has not sent them yet. About two P.M. we were ordered to draw back for Jack son with his whole army was going to Mack us We fell back beyond Mechanics ville into some intrenchments our men had built Skirmish fighting com- menced the action but at 4 P.M. the fight Im was in progress in all its horrors. The Rebel artillery was well served. I have seen a great deal of artillery firing, but never have seen any that in [ ? ] ones the opponent coolness with which it was [ ? ] came any where near its lives I went to sleep that night before the shell had stopped bursting around me the next morning the action was renew but after two hours cannonading we were ordered to fall back, with- out as far as could see any good season. We continued to retreat past [ ? ] fields a distance of five miles the Rebs hard on our heels. Mac selected a place that I thought when we went on it we could hold it against all the Rebs of Richmond. At three P.M. the enemy came up. we held them and also then at first, but they had at least two to one and came on us in a [ ? ] our men broke and ran. Our Capt. had taken us from the field but Brewer and my- self with four others of the Co. went back to the field although Capt. ordered us not to. we took our position in a road and staid there until the Rebs were within fifteen miles rods of us and as they were evidently intending to occupy the very grounds I stood on. I left the enemy scattered our men like [ ? ]. After a while we made a stand and held them until dark Brewer was hit slightly in the leg during our retreat for the [ ? ] In the night we crossed the Chickahominy to the main body of our army. Saturday we lay all night day in the wood. and in the night marched in retreat again and all the next day. And that night Sunday the 29th we (McCalls Div.) went out in advance of every thing and lay concealed in a piece of wood where it was ex- pected the enemy would come if. we were attached. It was a tiresome lonely night to me. perfect silence reigned through all that live long night. I never felt so uncomfortable Monday afternoon we were drawn up in line of battle and it was known Secesh was coming. I can give you no just description of the scences of that afternoon. the enemy advanced upon us in the face of a heavy and destructive artillery fire as fast as the messages of death opened their ranks they were filled with others. Our men changed and drove them from the field capturing many prisoners.