The Clark Papers contains eight letters, seven of which were written by John A. Clark to William Wesley Whedon (1827-1907), of Chelsea, Michigan, and his wife, Helen Turner. One letter, written by Clarence Whedon, William's brother, includes a good description of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Clarence served in the 20th Michigan Infantry
Clark's letters are highly literate accounts of the cavalry service during the Civil War, filled with descriptions of the strenuous, active and mobile life of the horse soldier. His letters describing the days before and after the Battle of Gettysburg, and his 14 page letter describing the Appomattox Campaign and the close of the war in the east are memorable. His letter of August 10th, 1863, includes a description of counter-guerrilla activity in the Shenandoah Valley that highlights the brutality and uncertainty of guerrilla warfare and the sometimes extralegal means to which Federal troops had to resort to suppress the guerrillas.
Clark, John A.
Rank: Lieut., Capt. (4 August 1864)
Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry Regiment. Co. I (1862-1865)
Service: 1862 October 15-1865 December 15
John A. Clark, of Stockbridge, Michigan, received a commission as 1st Lieutenant of the 7th Michigan Cavalry in October, 1862, and served throughout his enlistment in northern Virginia. The 7th Cavalry were present at several engagements during the spring and summer campaigns of 1863, including Gettysburg, and were active in efforts to suppress Mosby's guerillas in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864 and 1865. Clark was captured near Richmond in March, 1864, and imprisoned in the city until he escaped in November. He returned to his regiment in the winter, 1864-65, and participated with his regiment in the Appomattox Campaign (including the Battles of Five Forks and Appomattox Court House). The regiment was finally mustered out of the service in December, 1865.
