The Seventh Regiment: A Record

by George L. Wood

"As the procession moved up to the tomb the band played a dirge. The Rev. W. A. Fiske, rector of Grace Church, read the beautiful and impressive burial-service of the Episcopal Church, the bodies were placed in the vault, the final prayer said, and then the door of the tomb was closed. The old members of the Seventh fired three volleys over the tomb, and all was over. The heroic dead sleep undisturbed.

"So ended the grandest and the most mournful pageant that has passed through the streets of Cleveland for many a year."

LIEUT.-COL. MERVIN CLARK.

On a gloomy night in May, 1861, when the wind was howling in fitful gusts, and the rain pouring down in merciless rapidity, the writer was awakened by the stentorian voice of the adjutant in front of the tent, followed by an order that Lieutenant —— would report for guard-duty. After wading half-knee deep in mud and water, narrowly escaping a cold bath in an over-friendly ditch, I arrived at the headquarters of the guard. Soon after my arrival, a boy reported to me for duty, as sergeant of the guard; a position no less responsible than my own. At first I felt that, on such a fearful night, I needed more than a boy to assist me in the performance of my task. His form was fragile; his face was smooth as that of a girl, and in the dim, shadowy light of a camp-fire, struggling against the heavy rain, I took him to be about fifteen years of age. We immediately entered into conversation, and between admiration and surprise, the rain was forgotten, and the moments sped so rapidly, that it was nearing the time to change the guard. But my boy companion had forgotten nothing, and as the moment arrived, he called in the relief. As he moved among those sturdy warriors, it occurred to me that I had never before met a boy, who was at the same time a man—a brave, prudent, reliable man. All night he did his duty, and when we parted in the morning, I both loved and admired him. This was my first meeting with Colonel Clark.

Mervin Clark was a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of Cleveland, in 1843. When but three years of age his mother died, and at the age of nine his surviving parent, leaving him an orphan. He was now taken, into the family of Henry W. Clark, an uncle, where he found a home, and kind friends, during the remainder of his life.

The flash of the last gun at Sumter had hardly died away, when he enrolled himself as a private in Captain De Villiers' company, at the same time declaring that he would, by no act of his, leave the service of his country, until rebels in arms were met and subdued. How well he kept that pledge, it is the office of this brief sketch to show.

He left Camp Dennison as an orderly-sergeant, and during the trying marches and skirmishes in Western Virginia, won a commission. Arriving in the East, he was made a first-lieutenant. At the battle of Winchester, he surprised and delighted every one who saw him. When the bullets flew thickest, he stepped on to the brink of the hill, over which our men were firing, and, with revolver in hand, took part in the strife. His captain, seeing his danger, directed him to get behind a tree which stood close by. He obeyed orders, but with his back to the tree, and his face to the foe. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, he commanded a company, and during that fearful day, led his men with great bravery. At last, when the order was given to retreat, he mistook it for an order to charge, and, with a dozen men, dashed at the double line of a whole brigade of rebels. It was not until an officer of authority conveyed the true order to him, that he would withdraw. He now took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in the East, except Antietam. When the regiment left for the West, he accompanied it, and soon after took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, and the series of engagements taking place while with Sherman. Before his term of service expired, he was made a captain, and commanded his company on its homeward march. He was soon after mustered out with his company. He now sought quiet and rest at his home, giving no evidence of an intention to again enter the service. But before he had been at home many weeks, he surprised and disappointed his friends by enlisting as a private in the regular army. His fame, however, was too wide-spread in Ohio to suffer him to re-enter the service as a private. Governor Brough had already selected him for promotion, and when learning of his enlistment in the regular service, procured an order for his discharge, and immediately appointed him lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, then about to enter the field. He had now come of age, November 5th, and on the 8th of November cast his first vote; on the 12th, he received his commission; and on the 15th, he left for the front. His regiment joined the army of General Thomas, on its retreat before the rebel forces under Hood. On the 30th of November, the regiment was engaged in the terrible battle of Franklin. During the engagement, the regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's works. The color bearer was soon shot down, when Clark seized the colors, and calling to his men, "Who will follow me to retake these works?" mounted the rebel works, and immediately fell, a minie ball having passed through his head. Every effort was made to take his body from the field, but to no purpose, and the "boy officer" was wrapped in his blanket, and buried on the field of his fame, to be finally removed by careful hands, when the earth had covered every vestige of the strife in its friendly bosom.

LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON.

Henry Robinson was a native of Ohio, and entered the service as first-lieutenant of Company G. He was always attentive to his duties, and soon took a position among the first of his rank. He was constantly with his command during its early service. He was in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, where he won the respect and confidence of the entire command by his gallant conduct. In this affair, he commanded Company G. Arriving at Charleston, he was sent to Gauley Bridge, and soon after was taken violently sick with a fever. He soon after died.

In the death of Lieutenant Robinson, the regiment made one of its greatest sacrifices. He was esteemed by every one for his kind and courteous manners, as well as for his ability as a soldier. He had many friends in the army, and at home, and I doubt very much if he had an enemy in the world. His military career was short, but of such a character that his friends can refer to it with pride.