Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Clark, George W. (fl. 1863-1865) to his mother

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06167.13 Author/Creator: Clark, George W. (fl. 1863-1865) Place Written: Little River, Alabama Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 October 1864 Pagination: 2 pages Order a Copy

Relays news of war. Sends word of his position as Acting Adjutant for the regiment (a post he has held for two months and does not enjoy), reminds her that his twenty-second birthday occurred the day before.

[draft]

23 October 1864 - Sunday
Little River, Alabama

My dear Mother,
I now avail myself of the opportunity to write you a few lines merely to inform you of my welfare and existence and to implore some of you at home to write me. I have not heard from home in a long, long time. Em's letter was the last intelligence that came from Home and that was received and answered long ago. If those who have time and leisure cannot find pleasure in writing me I shall cut the communication and abide by the results. I do not mean to complain, nor shall I, but I must say that I feel that I have been neglected and for what reason is a mystery to me.
I do not mean that the correspondence is sustained by one side, for I know that I write but few letters, but would write more often if possible. I am very sensitive and this long continued silence and seeming indifference pains me deeply.
As you will perceive by the heading of this we are in Alabama again. The whole army nearly is in Ala. Our front has been charged and the army was compelled to assume a new attitude. Of the recent vigorous campaign you will ? before this reached you. Our Rail Road was pulled up for over forty miles and I doubt if this reaches you inside of a month. I am well and healthy as usual, though a short time since I thought I was going to have an attack of the Agne. I had one or two chills, the first I have ever known but they were not of a serious nature. Since I last wrote from the vicinity of Atlanta. Our division of Cavalry have had four very sever but successful fights against Rebel cavalry. One day the 13th of this month our Reg. Charged four times in one day. Our Brig. Captured two pieces of artillery and a hundred prisoners. Our Regt. now numbers sixty ? and eleven officers, scarcely a good sized company. We hope before long to turn over the balance of our ? and repair to Columbia Tenn. for reorganization and a remount of horses. In the last four engagements we have lost a good many horses. Capt. Bolton had two shot in one day and I was by his side both times but did not even have my horse hit. The day we charged the battery near Rome one Reb behind a stump shot at me three times with his carbine. I made up my mind he was a poor shot or he might have hit me. I have been acting ? for nearly ten months, but I do not like the position. When properly filled the position is fraught with danger. My Company, M, when I took command numbered over forty horses and now I have but seven in the Company. I for my own use have two very fine horses which were captured in the Kilpatnes raid and am going to stay with the Regt. until the last horse is gone. Hood thought to destroy our R. R. and thus to starve us out, but we have had full rations and now I believe the R. R. is nearly completed again. We have plenty of potatoes and vegetables of every kind. Charles Flint I saw in Atlanta last month. Yesterday was my 22st birthday. Did you remember it? I am growing old fast. But I must close this as the mail is about to leave. Much love to all inquiring friends and Love and Kisses to Baby and all.
Your aff Son
George

Clark, George W., fl. 1863-1865

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources