White House Va. May 17th 1862 My Dear Mary. I do not know when another opportunity to write you will come. and thought I do not fell feel like writing, “the present is all I have.” Last Thursday we came here only five miles from Cumberland, or Indian Pt. Landing.
Clark, Gardner B. – May 12, 1862
Camp in the field 35 miles from Richmond May 12th 1862 My Mary To day I received three letters from you. they were the first I have had in more than a week. May 14th As I had got thus far fall in sings out our Orderly and off we go.
Clark, Gardner B. – April 23, 1862
Near Yorktown Va. April 23rd 1862 My Own Mary I staid off Picket to day because I wanted to write to you for two days I have volunteered for duty on the lines. and shall go every day for the rest of the week. Yesterday I had all the fun one could wish for in the shape of shooting at and being shot at by Secesh. I had a good chance and were withing sixty rods of them.
Clark, Gardner B. – April 20, 1862
Near Yorktown Va. April 20th 1862 My Mary. I hardly know where I am this morning. but from the firing last night and every few moments now conclude our Camp is not is still within range of a powerful and well entrenched enemy. Our Co. is for the present attached to Gen. Smiths Division. He is the man that last Sept. said he wanted no S.S. under his command.
Clark, Gardner B. – April 16, 1862
Camp Near Yorktown Va. April 16th 1862 My Mary. Still no fight simply throwing a few shot to range the guns. By Christmas (I dont say next Christmas remember that) you may expect the news “Yorktown is ours.” One more S.S. shot this morning. No knowing whose turn it will be next.
Clark, Gardner B. – April 13, 1862
Grand Rapids April 13/62 My Own Loved Gardner Although I had but one letter from you last week I know you thought of me just as often, and would have written if you could and perhaps you did. I will think so any way.
Clark, Gardner B. – April 8, 1862
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.”
Clark, Gardner B. – March 30, 1862
Camp Porter Va. March 30th 1862 My Own Loved Mary. With three coats on I have been shivering all day. it is wet muddy, and disagreeable, yet it is due you that I should send a few cheering words of our prospects
Clark, Gardner B. – March 25, 1862
Hampton Va. March 25th 1862 My Mary. When I last wrote you I was under the guns of Fortress Monroe. since then we have been busy. Yesterday we unloaded and at the once beautiful village of Hampton now not a house remains standing in the place.
Clark, Gardner B. – March 23, 1862
Fortress Monroe Mar. 23rd 1862 My Own Dear Mary. I think I have been way lucky in one respect since leaving you. for every few days I could get a letter from one I love as I love truth and honor. now I hear when I do.
Clark, Gardner B. – March 15, 1862
Camp near Yorktown Mar. 15th/62 My Own Mary. Still we are waiting. for what I can only guess. It may be to let those who are to die live a few days longer. for the week past we have done very little. Troops and Artillery have been coming up until now we have 110,000 fighting men and near 800 peices of cannon. A day or two ago six of our men (Co. “C”) were on picket about eight or nine hundred yards from the Rebel guns. “Old California” as we call him. (his name is Truman Head and he says he is over fifty years old we think he is near score more than that. he came from Cal. to join Col. Bakers Reg. but for some reason did not do so and as good luck would have it came into our Co.) has a Sharps Rifles which he bought just before leaving Wash.
Clark, Gardner B. – March 12, 1862
Camp of Instruction First Reg. U.S.S.S. Washington Mar. 12th 1862 My Own Mary. I run the guard the fore part of the evening and went to the city so could not write and after getting back found we had got to take a days trump some where. and I would not have time to write to-morrow.
Clark, Gardner B. – March 2, 1862
Cascade March 2, 1862 My own Loved Gardner, March stormy March has come but not stormy as yet. it is quite plesant and quite very good going. The rest of the folks have all gone
Clark, Gardner B. – February 5, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington D.C. Feb. 5th 1862 My own Mary. A beautiful day warm and sunshing to be repaid perhaps to-morrow by rain and cold disagreeable Southern weather well we can aford to have a week nasty weather for this one day. and very likely we will get it for there is no sweet. without its bitter ten fold.
Clark, Gardner B. – February 2, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington D.C. Feb. 2nd 1862 My Own Mary. Friday brought me your loved message of Sunday written perhaps at the same time my pen was tracing my hearts thoughts to one whom I believe will ever be my better angel guiding me
Clark, Gardner B. – January 30, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans Hubug Humboy Washington Jan 30th 1862 My Own Loved Mary. As I lie in my tent milling the contents of that box I wonder what you are doing and thinking this rainy weather. Tuesday I went to the City for it could not find it and when I get back found it to the quartermasters
Clark, Gardner B. – January 26, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans First Reg. U.S.S.S. Washington Jan 26th 1862 My Own Loved Mary And still the Sabbaths come and go regardless whether loved on are near or far away and really I suppose it does not matter only to those immediately interested probably it would mak no difference in the world at large if they should never meet again
Clark, Gardner B. – January 22, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans First Reg. U.S.S.S. Washington D.C. Jan 22nd 1862 My Own Dear Mary. I expect this evening as I write this you may be reading my last which went by way of a brother Corporal Norton Fitch of Alpine. he started last Monday and ought to be home by this with it I sent all my letters and a portfolio which was in the way.
Clark, Gardner B. – January 14, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington D.C. Jan. 14th 1862 My Dearly Loved Mary, Last night brought too me Another of you ever loved and welcome messages they are anxiously watched for eagerly read and while reading my mind in imagination sees those fingers as they trace those loving lines.
Clark, Gardner B. – January 12, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington D. C. Jan. 12th 1862 My Own Loved Mary, Pleasant and spring like is the weather to day as warm as April days and telling us that though we may be inactive the seasons come and go the same time passes swiftly or slowly as we occupy it these [ ? ] you may believe it goes swiftly to me for at not time since I have been here have I been so busy as within a week past.
Clark, Gardner B. – January 11, 1862
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S Washington D.C. January 11th 1862 My Own Loved Mary Sunday again having nasty muddy nothing to do. and nothing to do it with we have no drill now nothing to do but guard duties and last Friday was the first time I have been on guard since the twenty sixth of October
Clark, Gardner B. – December 25, 1861
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington D.C. Dec. 25th 1861 My own Dear Mary; Christmas eve 1861, I try to pierce through a thousand miles of distance to see what my Mary is doing, and how she enjoys herself. but I can only guess and guess she is writing to me.
Clark, Gardner B. – December 23, 1861
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington Dec 23rd 1861 A Aunt Harriet and Uncle Thephilus; It is a wet rainy morning and but two days to Christmas. What a change from one year ago in the affairs of the Nation and also of probably of every man, woman, and child in the Nation.
Clark, Gardner B. – December 22, 1861
Grand Rapids Dec 22/61 My own Dear One, Good Morning Gardner, how do you do this morning. It is as cold as Greenland, and for a wonder it is sunning. The last day of school, Dr. Big Swell was there.