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Virginia Military Institute Archives
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The John J. Clarke Civil War papers are available online .
John J. Clarke Civil War papers, 1861-1865. MS 0112. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Little is known about the personal history of John J. Clarke. His date and place of birth are unknown. During the pre-Civil War years he was employed as a civil engineer. In April 1861, he commissioned as a captain in the Confederate Army Engineer Corps and served as an engineer until the end of the Civil War, rising to the rank of colonel.
By 1864 Clarke was the Chief Engineer for the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. At the War's end, he settled in Georgia, where he was Superintendent of the Georgia Central Railroad. Records indicate that he was living in Savannah in 1868. He died circa 1889 in an accident in New Jersey.
The John J. Clarke Civil War papers consist of documents, including commissions, military orders, correspondence, and dispatches that relate to activities in and around Charleston, South Carolina during the period of 1864 to 1865. One letter (dated February 4, 1865) to Colonel Clarke from Headquarters discusses proposed training of African-American troops in the Confederate States of America Corps of Engineers.
Commission document by Provisional Army of Virginia that commissions John J. Clarke as a first lieutenant. The document is signed by Governor John Letcher.
Issued by the Confederate States of America War Department. The document appoints John J. Clarke as Captain, Corps of Engineers, Provisional Army Confederate States.
A general order that appoints John J. Clarke as Chief Engineer, Peninsula Department, by order of General John B. Magruder.
Dispatch remarks that "In prosecuting the work of obstructing James River you [John J. Clarke] are authorized to seize for the Confederate States any vessels in the river which you may need....".
Dispatch regards the construction of a bridge.
Written from Charleston, South Carolina. Letter requests that "Co. B., 23rd Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, Elliott's Brigade, now serving near Petersburg, be ordered to report to me here, for service on boats supplying Fort Sumter."
Written from Savannah, Georgia. Letter thanks John J. Clarke for his gift of a pair of spurs.
Letter conveys General Robert E. Lee's opinion about John J. Clarke's plan for training of African-American troops in the Engineer Corps.
Written from from Headquarters, Charleston, South Carolina (Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). This document is a confidential detailed directive regarding the withdrawal of troops and materials from Charleston, harbor forts, and on the defensive lines.
Document titled "Engineer Officers and Acting Engineers now on duty with Major John McCrady, Acting Chief Engineer."
A financial reciept for one horse.
Written from Chesterville, South Carolina by Captian [Smith?]. Letter regards duty assignments of various officers as well as a surveying and mapping project.