Clark, Gardner B. – April 8, 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: Yorktown, Virginia Historical Figures: George B. McClellan, William F. Smith Camp near Yorktown Apr 8th 1862 My Own Mary. Sunday came and went this time and you will never receive your [  ?  ] missing. I have a reasonable excuse, as you shall hear. Last Friday morning at break of day we were on the march for what we then supposed and what has since proved true “The Battle Field of Yorktown.” The first day out just after noon we came up to a fort some three miles beyond Big Bethel which opened free upon as but only for a few rounds and then with no effect they soon left and we march throug and within six miles of Yorktown that night making about eighteen miles travel. that distance for an army makes tired men. At eight in the morning of Saturday we were on the move again thing looked squally and in less than an hour it commenced raining. Co. ‘C’ 1st Reg. U.S.S.S. leading the column we had to skirmish through the woods and swamp and after going two miles if there was one day [  ?  ] in the Co. there was not any more. we then gave way to an- other Co. to skirmish getting into the road and advancing slowly. we got up within a mile of the enemys guns when boom. (just prolong the letter I a short time and you will come near it) but a short distance over our heads came our welcome to Yorktown in the shape of a shell. Which burst perhaps thirty feet in our rear. Still we kept on our Co. taking the lead again and advancing directly toward them and within eight hundred yards of their of their old “thirty two.” As we got there the Rhode Island Battery had just got ready to reply to the Rebel guns but mistaking us for Rebel skirmishers they threw some eight or ten shells at us. where we had taken cover under a soil fine. We thought it pretty warm [  ?  ] but stood ever ground between the fires of both friend and foe. one man only was wounded. he was hit in the knee by a piece of shell weighing at least a pound. no bones were broken and he is getting over it fast. [  ?  ] Charles credit is good and if I was any more conceited I would feel proud of belonging to the Mich Co. of U.S.S.S. After taking a good view we tried our Rifles my first shot was at a horse carrying an officer. he was walking quietly along. when I fired by the next instant he was giving that place a wide berth more scared than hast I suppose but I got the credit of making a good shot. From that time for three hours we kept a continual fire upon the Rebel gunners and they did not fire but two or three shots. Every time our guns cracked every one of them around the gun we fired at would drop to the ground. Since may have been killed we had no means of knowing how many. Officers with glasses said we killed a large number. Toward night Gen. Smith engaged the enemy on our left and it has been reported quite a number were killed and wounded. Four of our Reg. were killed and four wounded. James May among this latter, a ball in his right arm, just below the shoulder being about as careful a shot as one need wish for. The Rebels have Sharp Shooters as well as we and the music of their balls (though the proximity to ones self was some times closer than wholesome.) had nothing very alarming about them. after getting a little used to their whistle. music of flying shell and cannon balls           But the music of flying shell and cannon balls I cannot compare with any thing else under the range of my observation. Tuesday night at ten oclock we left the ground we had held all day with some Infantry that were drove back the next morning and came to our present camp which is less than a miles from a battery of the Rebels mounting forty guns. McClellan is here and it is said he will be ready to commence the attack in the morning, but it has been raining for the past four and twenty hours. so I presume it will delay us a day or two. We have ninety thousand troops and five hundred pieces of artillery here. the Rebels are reported as having forty thousand troops and a large number of guns. Their retreat is said to be cut off and a big fight will take place before this reaches you. Sunday I could hardly move. Monday was but little better today I fell partly well. and though I am not spirting for a fight. I am anxious to have this over The Battle of Yorktown fairly turned the scale in the Revolutionary War. if this does the same in this war I know of thousands that will rejoice even amid their tears for the fallen slaves. I received yours of the 31st yesterday. there has been quite a number of your letters that have missed me. I am sorry for I have to leave the best of live in that way. [On Envelope:] Wm Mitchell Miss Mary J. Baxter Grand Rapids Michigan Yorktown