John Clark, part 3

(Link to part 2 , which includes a link to part 1)

In the aftermath of this victorious campaign, Sherman split his troops, keeping some to go on the "March to the Sea" but sending others to chase down John Bell Hood’s Confederates as they marched westward into Tennessee. The 16^th Kentucky, with John Clark, was among the units assigned to head west.

On November 30, Hood ordered his troops to attack the Union Army at Franklin, resulting in defeat for the Rebels, whose losses included several generals. This was a crucial loss for the Southern army, and the 16^th Kentucky played an important part, according to (now) Brigadier-General J.W. Reilly in his report in the Official Records: “The line was rapidly rallied by their officers and with the assistance of the Sixteenth Kentucky, that at this moment led by Lieutenant-Colonel White, who…gallantly ordered and led his regiment forward to the breach before orders to that effect could reach him. That portion of the enemy who had gained inside our works were either killed or taken prisoners. The enemy made various and continued assaults upon the line, but were each time repulsed with fearful slaughter.”

The fascinating and informative Battle of Franklin blog, in its 11/24/2010 entry entitled “Franklin after-battle report, 104^th Ohio Infantry” publishes a report from Colonel Oscar W. Sterl. Among its information is the following linee describing some of the action in which the 16^th Kentucky took part:

Sixteenth and Twelfth Kentucky rushed from the second line simultaneously with them, and joined them and the One hundredth Ohio, on the first line, from which (having overcome all the rebels who had crossed the works) they kept up a constant and destructive stream of fire, cutting down by hundreds the rebels who had accumulated and massed in the ditches and immediately in front.

During this battle, John Clark became a casualty of war, suffering a flesh wound in his left thigh. He was admitted to Jefferson General Hospital in Jefferson, Indiana on December 5. He remained there until discharged on July 29, 1865, when he was ordered to rejoin his company near Louisville. It was in Louisville where he was officially mustered out of service on August 1, 1865.

Jefferson General Hospital, courtesy wikipedia.com

John's military records provide some information about his pay situation. His discharge card noted $26.64 was still owed to him. Earlier hospital records had noted when he received other payments.

On the company muster-out roll, dated July 15, 1865 in North Carolina, remarks indicate John had received $160 in bounty money, with $240 more being due. He had been paid through April 30, 1865 by this point in time, and this form mentioned “no discharge furnished” after noting his injury. At the bottom of the page, however, a note reported: “Mustered out, August 1, 1865” by the “report of Chf. M. and D.” 

During his time in the hospital, John missed out as his comrades took part in more crucial action before the close of the war as the 16^th Kentucky participated in the Union route of the Confederates at Nashville. This regiment then traveled east and some of its members were the first troops to enter Wilmington, North Carolina, the final Atlantic port open to the Confederates, after Fort Fisher had fallen to the Yankees.

This unit remained in North Carolina on garrison duty at Greensburg until July.