Dishonor and Redemption: Photographing the 119th Pennsylvania, Part 2.

In the last post, I told the story of Major Henry P. Truefitt, Jr., an officer who appeared in a little-known photograph of the 119^th Pennsylvania.

In today’s post, I’d like to profile another personality from that image. This fellow:

 

Here is Lt. Col. Gideon Clark, the dishonored commander of the 119th Pennsylvania. Somehow, he convinced Abraham Lincoln to reinstate him.

The man seated at the right is the 119^th Pennsylvania’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gideon Clark. He was born on June 19, 1822. Before the war, he worked as an engraver. Like Truefitt, Clark also served in the Gray Reserves, one of Philadelphia’s premier militia regiments. Clark was among the first men from Philadelphia to volunteer for service in the Civil War, becoming the 17^th Pennsylvania’s adjutant. After serving in that regiment—which operated for only three months—Clark helped raise a three-year unit, the 119^th Pennsylvania, and mustered in as its lieutenant colonel on September 1, 1862. 

Clark fought with his regiment in most of its engagements. However, he suffered a black mark when he showed up drunk at the Battle of Rappahannock Station, November 7, 1863. According to Captain Edwin Landell, who witnessed the unfortunate incident, just as the 119^th’s skirmishers made contact with the enemy, “Colonel Clark came riding up after he had been out toward the front having the appearance of an officer very much under the influence of liquor. . . . He swayed to and fro on his horse . . . and with apparent difficulty dismounted and lay down and went to sleep.”

Eyewitnesses disputed what happened next. Some claimed that Clark missed the whole battle, while others contended he slept off his stupor and joined in the attack, albeit in a laconic way. Whichever version of events happened, the other officers of the 119^th Pennsylvania couldn’t ignore Clark’s misbehavior, and through their collective efforts, they had him ousted from the regiment. 

In January 1864, twelve concerned officers signed a petition demanding an investigation of Clark’s conduct during the Battle of Rappahannock Station. One of them wrote that, they, jointly, “decided  . . . to use every means in our power to prevent his promotion to the colonelcy.”

In early April 1864, Lt. Col. Clark faced a court martial. Surprisingly, Clark defended himself, and although the court produced a split decision, it acquitted him of the charge of being drunk on duty. However, Clark could not manage an acquittal for a second charge that came alongside it—a charge of filing a false report about regimental strengths. Apparently, Clark’s detractors worried that the dereliction of duty charge might not stick, so they appended this additional charge, just in case. 

It worked. On April 25, Clark was relieved of command and he left the 119^th Pennsylvania’s winter quarters at Wellford’s Ford. (Clearly, this photograph was taken before that day.)

For the next two weeks, Clark began writing to friends in high places, trying to get himself reinstated. On May 10, the same day his regiment participated in “Upton’s Charge” against the Mule Shoe Salient, Clark found himself inside the White House, ready to speak to the President. A mutual acquaintance—a federal judge—was supposed to introduce him, but he never showed. Undaunted, Clark walked to the door of the Oval Office and knocked.

Lo and behold, Abraham Lincoln answered.

Characteristically friendly, Lincoln opened the door and invited Clark into his office, allowing the disgraced officer a chance to tell his story.

Clark told it, and he told it well. Apparently, he convinced Lincoln of his innocence, who immediately signed an order reinstating him. Two days later—the same day that Major Truefitt fell in battle—the adjutant general of Pennsylvania restored Clark’s rank and ordered him to report to the front. On May 18, Clark rejoined his regiment and resumed command. He held that command until April 1865. During the April 2, 1865, assault on Petersburg, Clark received a gunshot wound to the leg that cost him a large portion of his tibia. As a result, he received the rank of brevet brigadier general, an award for his meritorious service.

Amazingly, Clark had reclaimed his honor. 

You might all be wondering: was Clark truly guilty of dereliction of duty or was he merely railroaded by twelve jealous junior officers? Well, that question is beyond the scope of this post, and quite frankly, I don’t believe I have enough evidence to judge properly. But it is enough, I think, to see Lt. Col. Clark here, confident and self-assured, pictured just weeks (or perhaps days) before his bitter court-martial.

Here's another look at the photograph of the field and staff of the 119th Pennsylvania. Seated at right, you can see Lt. Col. Clark.

Clark remained in Philadelphia politics for the rest of his life, serving as Master Warden of the Port and Director of Wills. He died on May 24, 1897, at age 74. He is interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.