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Virginia Military Institute Archives
VMI ArchivesPreston Library
Lexington, VA 24450
Business Number: 540-464-7516
archives@vmi.edu
URL: http://www.vmi.edu/archives
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions.
Online Access
The John J. Clarke Civil War papers are available online .
Preferred Citation
John J. Clarke Civil War papers, 1861-1865. MS 0112. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Charleston (S.C.)—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
- Confederate States of America. Army—Corps of Engineers
- Correspondence
- Dispatches
- Military commissions
- Muster rolls
- Orders (military records)
- Receipts (financial records)
- United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—African Americans
- United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893
- Clarke, John J., ?-1889?
- Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
- Letcher, John, 1813-1884
Container List
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.