At age 20 enlisted on 5/17/1861 at Shakopee, Scott Co., MN as a private.
On 5/17/1861 he was mustered into Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry
On 3/24/1864 he was transferred to Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion
Wounded 10/14/1863 Bristoe Station, VA; mustered out on 7/14/1865
Promotions: corporal, sergeant
When war broke out he did not enlist immediately but within a month traveled up the Minnesota River to Fort Snelling and enlisted there. He was 23 years old, stood 5' 8 3/4" tall, had a florid complexion, light hair and blue eyes.
George was a dutiful soldier, who was present at all the battles in which the regiment was involved. At the Battle of Antietam, George became separated from his company and was captured. He was released during a prisoner exchange, which meant that all men involved could go back to their respective units.
George survived the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the desperate charge at Gettysburg, but was not so fortunate at Bristow Station. During this time George was wounded by a bullet that penetrated his left hip. He was helped off the field and spent the next two months in Grosvenor Hospital in Virginia.
He returned home that winter and was one of only 58 veterans to re-enlist in May when the 1st Minnesota Infantry was mustered out and the new 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion was formed.
At the battle of Petersburg the battalion found itself in an advanced position, in trenches directly in front of the Confederate Army. They were waiting for other units of the V Corps to support them. For some reason the support never came and the Confederates attacked where there was a gap in the line, cutting off the battalion. Some, like George, tried to make a stand but it was no use and they were soon captured.
George, along with twenty other men from the battalion were soon carted off to prison for what would be the most trying time of their military duty. He was a POW for eight months. He was confined in Richmond on June 24th, and then sent to Andersonville Prison in Lynchburg, Va, on June 29th. Later he was sent to a prison at Florence, SC. Upon his release, he was sent to the hospital in Annapolis, Md. He was there for about five weeks before being sent to a hospital in Baltimore.
When he was discharged, he returned to the battalion and was promoted to sergeant. Frank Houston recalled later that Clark "looked like a ghost of the man, who was captured in June, 1864, and that he complained of having no teeth and always felt exhausted." George was discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on July 14, 1865.
He died of "softening of the brain" caused by his sickness.
Sources: http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&100830
http://firstmn.phpwebhosting.com/SearchResults.php3?ID=0015
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George married about 15 years after completing his Civil War service and fathered three sons. He was in poor health and spent his last months at the Old Soldier's Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was before the Soldiers Home was built in Minneapolis. His widow, Cora, then married her widower neighbor (John Mitchell) two years after George died and had six more children.
Contributor: Nancy E Gertner (48090385)
On 5/17/1861 he was mustered into Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry
On 3/24/1864 he was transferred to Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion
Wounded 10/14/1863 Bristoe Station, VA; mustered out on 7/14/1865
Promotions: corporal, sergeant
When war broke out he did not enlist immediately but within a month traveled up the Minnesota River to Fort Snelling and enlisted there. He was 23 years old, stood 5' 8 3/4" tall, had a florid complexion, light hair and blue eyes.
George was a dutiful soldier, who was present at all the battles in which the regiment was involved. At the Battle of Antietam, George became separated from his company and was captured. He was released during a prisoner exchange, which meant that all men involved could go back to their respective units.
George survived the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the desperate charge at Gettysburg, but was not so fortunate at Bristow Station. During this time George was wounded by a bullet that penetrated his left hip. He was helped off the field and spent the next two months in Grosvenor Hospital in Virginia.
He returned home that winter and was one of only 58 veterans to re-enlist in May when the 1st Minnesota Infantry was mustered out and the new 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion was formed.
At the battle of Petersburg the battalion found itself in an advanced position, in trenches directly in front of the Confederate Army. They were waiting for other units of the V Corps to support them. For some reason the support never came and the Confederates attacked where there was a gap in the line, cutting off the battalion. Some, like George, tried to make a stand but it was no use and they were soon captured.
George, along with twenty other men from the battalion were soon carted off to prison for what would be the most trying time of their military duty. He was a POW for eight months. He was confined in Richmond on June 24th, and then sent to Andersonville Prison in Lynchburg, Va, on June 29th. Later he was sent to a prison at Florence, SC. Upon his release, he was sent to the hospital in Annapolis, Md. He was there for about five weeks before being sent to a hospital in Baltimore.
When he was discharged, he returned to the battalion and was promoted to sergeant. Frank Houston recalled later that Clark "looked like a ghost of the man, who was captured in June, 1864, and that he complained of having no teeth and always felt exhausted." George was discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on July 14, 1865.
He died of "softening of the brain" caused by his sickness.
Sources: http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&100830
http://firstmn.phpwebhosting.com/SearchResults.php3?ID=0015
********************
George married about 15 years after completing his Civil War service and fathered three sons. He was in poor health and spent his last months at the Old Soldier's Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was before the Soldiers Home was built in Minneapolis. His widow, Cora, then married her widower neighbor (John Mitchell) two years after George died and had six more children.
Contributor: Nancy E Gertner (48090385)
At age 20 enlisted on 5/17/1861 at Shakopee, Scott Co., MN as a private.
On 5/17/1861 he was mustered into Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry
On 3/24/1864 he was transferred to Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion
Wounded 10/14/1863 Bristoe Station, VA; mustered out on 7/14/1865
Promotions: corporal, sergeant
When war broke out he did not enlist immediately but within a month traveled up the Minnesota River to Fort Snelling and enlisted there. He was 23 years old, stood 5' 8 3/4" tall, had a florid complexion, light hair and blue eyes.
George was a dutiful soldier, who was present at all the battles in which the regiment was involved. At the Battle of Antietam, George became separated from his company and was captured. He was released during a prisoner exchange, which meant that all men involved could go back to their respective units.
George survived the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the desperate charge at Gettysburg, but was not so fortunate at Bristow Station. During this time George was wounded by a bullet that penetrated his left hip. He was helped off the field and spent the next two months in Grosvenor Hospital in Virginia.
He returned home that winter and was one of only 58 veterans to re-enlist in May when the 1st Minnesota Infantry was mustered out and the new 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion was formed.
At the battle of Petersburg the battalion found itself in an advanced position, in trenches directly in front of the Confederate Army. They were waiting for other units of the V Corps to support them. For some reason the support never came and the Confederates attacked where there was a gap in the line, cutting off the battalion. Some, like George, tried to make a stand but it was no use and they were soon captured.
George, along with twenty other men from the battalion were soon carted off to prison for what would be the most trying time of their military duty. He was a POW for eight months. He was confined in Richmond on June 24th, and then sent to Andersonville Prison in Lynchburg, Va, on June 29th. Later he was sent to a prison at Florence, SC. Upon his release, he was sent to the hospital in Annapolis, Md. He was there for about five weeks before being sent to a hospital in Baltimore.
When he was discharged, he returned to the battalion and was promoted to sergeant. Frank Houston recalled later that Clark "looked like a ghost of the man, who was captured in June, 1864, and that he complained of having no teeth and always felt exhausted." George was discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on July 14, 1865.
He died of "softening of the brain" caused by his sickness.
Sources: http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&100830
http://firstmn.phpwebhosting.com/SearchResults.php3?ID=0015
********************
George married about 15 years after completing his Civil War service and fathered three sons. He was in poor health and spent his last months at the Old Soldier's Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was before the Soldiers Home was built in Minneapolis. His widow, Cora, then married her widower neighbor (John Mitchell) two years after George died and had six more children.
Contributor: Nancy E Gertner (48090385)
On 5/17/1861 he was mustered into Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry
On 3/24/1864 he was transferred to Co. A, 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion
Wounded 10/14/1863 Bristoe Station, VA; mustered out on 7/14/1865
Promotions: corporal, sergeant
When war broke out he did not enlist immediately but within a month traveled up the Minnesota River to Fort Snelling and enlisted there. He was 23 years old, stood 5' 8 3/4" tall, had a florid complexion, light hair and blue eyes.
George was a dutiful soldier, who was present at all the battles in which the regiment was involved. At the Battle of Antietam, George became separated from his company and was captured. He was released during a prisoner exchange, which meant that all men involved could go back to their respective units.
George survived the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the desperate charge at Gettysburg, but was not so fortunate at Bristow Station. During this time George was wounded by a bullet that penetrated his left hip. He was helped off the field and spent the next two months in Grosvenor Hospital in Virginia.
He returned home that winter and was one of only 58 veterans to re-enlist in May when the 1st Minnesota Infantry was mustered out and the new 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion was formed.
At the battle of Petersburg the battalion found itself in an advanced position, in trenches directly in front of the Confederate Army. They were waiting for other units of the V Corps to support them. For some reason the support never came and the Confederates attacked where there was a gap in the line, cutting off the battalion. Some, like George, tried to make a stand but it was no use and they were soon captured.
George, along with twenty other men from the battalion were soon carted off to prison for what would be the most trying time of their military duty. He was a POW for eight months. He was confined in Richmond on June 24th, and then sent to Andersonville Prison in Lynchburg, Va, on June 29th. Later he was sent to a prison at Florence, SC. Upon his release, he was sent to the hospital in Annapolis, Md. He was there for about five weeks before being sent to a hospital in Baltimore.
When he was discharged, he returned to the battalion and was promoted to sergeant. Frank Houston recalled later that Clark "looked like a ghost of the man, who was captured in June, 1864, and that he complained of having no teeth and always felt exhausted." George was discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on July 14, 1865.
He died of "softening of the brain" caused by his sickness.
Sources: http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&100830
http://firstmn.phpwebhosting.com/SearchResults.php3?ID=0015
********************
George married about 15 years after completing his Civil War service and fathered three sons. He was in poor health and spent his last months at the Old Soldier's Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was before the Soldiers Home was built in Minneapolis. His widow, Cora, then married her widower neighbor (John Mitchell) two years after George died and had six more children.
Contributor: Nancy E Gertner (48090385)
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