Beschreibung:

4pp, 7.75 x 12 in., Headquarters 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Missi., April 8, 1862. Secretarial copy (probably one of several), signed Chas. Clarke. Born in Lebanon, OH, Charles Clark could trace descent from Mayflower immigrants. He then began a southward migration, going to college in Kentucky, and taking a teaching position in Mississippi. Eventually he became a lawyer and planter. He entered service in the Mexican War, and remained with State troops under Maj. Genl. Jefferson Davis after peace with Mexico. On 15 April 1861 he became Maj. Genl. commanding the state troops, but resigned to take a lower rank in the (then provisional) Confederate Army. In the winter of 1862, the Confederacy had lost Forts Henry and Donelson. Grant had collected five divisions at Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River in southern Tennessee near northern Mississippi and Alabama, and a sixth a few miles away up river. Concentrating on the river systems, Grant was determined to cut the Confederacy in half. Having retreated into western Tennessee after the loss of the two forts, General Albert Sidney Johnston was equally determined not to lose any more territory. He devised a plan to surprise Grant, before Buell's reinforcing divisions could arrive. Johnston met up with Bragg's forces at Corinth, just 20 miles southwest of Grant's position, and headed that direction. Charles Clark was with Johnston's Army of the Mississippi, commanding the 1st Division of the 1st Corps under Leonidas Polk. When the battle began on April 6th, Polk's command was on the center left of the line of attack. He met up with Bragg's forces on the right of center, and [Bragg] informed me that the battery on the left and front of my line was enfilading his troops, and directed me to charge it with one of my regiments. The Eleventh Louisiana, being most convenient, I led it forward. The battery was concealed from us by a ridge and distant about 30 yards. The battalion moved up the ascent, with fixed bayonets,... and when on the crest of the ridge we were opened upon by the enemy's battery with shot and canister and by a large infantry support... His men fell back and reformed, and fired on the Federals from just below the ridge, eventually driving them back. Then, I ordered the firing to cease, and was proceeding along the line to enforce the order when I received a severe wound in the right shoulder. Clark went to have his wound checked and dressed. If only Genl. Johnston had done the same with his leg wound. Albert Sidney Johnston deemed his wound insignificant, and within an hour bled to death, his boot filling with blood. It remained for P.G.T. Beauregard to continue the battle, and one of the first items of business was to shroud Johnston's body so as not to demoralize the troops. When the fighting ceased after two horrendous days, Johnston may have been the highest ranking officer to lose his life, but the Battle of Shiloh Church or Pittsburg Landing was the bloodiest of the war to that point. Union casualties numbered over 13,000, Confederate about 10,700. The Union lost General W.H.L. Wallace. Grant had been caught by surprise and was vilified in the northern press (even though he won the battle). The victory allowed Union forces to capture Corinth, destroy the Confederate Brown Water Navy, move on to Memphis and eventually Vicksburg, eventually contolling the river system. The battle was also a "wake up call" for both sides. Some maintain that it was here that Grant finally realized that one glorious battle would not end the war - it would be a bloody slog. He also seems to have learned a lesson in preparedness. Clark would be more severely wounded a couple months later, ending his military career. He would, however, go on to become Governor of his adopted state (1864), and see it through Reconstruction. Condition: Very minor soil. Old folds and toning of one back panel. Text somewhat light, but readable.