General William Thomas Clark

General William Thomas Clark - Inventory Number: ALB 021

Imperial albumen with hand embellishments of General William Thomas Clark

At the beginning of the Civil War, he became a lieutenant and adjutant of the 13th Iowa Infantry Regiment. He fought at the battle of Shiloh and Corinth. He served as assistant adjutant general in the XVII Corps during the siege of Vicksburg and assistant adjutant general to the Army of the Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign. He was made a brevet brigadier general for service in the Atlanta Campaign and was assigned to an infantry brigade in the XV Corps during the Carolinas Campaign, but was only lightly engaged in fighting. He rose to the full rank of brigadier general of volunteers (1865), and was made a brevet major general at the close of the same year for gallant and meritorious services during the war.

After the war, he made his home in Galveston, Texas, where he organized the first negro school and befriended negroes at the risk of his life. He founded the First National Bank and was its first cashier, and also served as postmaster. He was a Republican. As a representative from Texas in Congress in 1870-72, he obtained the first appropriation for the harbor of Galveston ($100,000), making possible the completion of the jetties there.

Beautifully framed, frame measures 19 1/2" x 23 3/4"  

  Clark, William T., brigadier-general, was born in Norwalk, Conn., June 29, 1831.  Entering the Civil war at its outbreak in 1861, as a private, he was promoted through the grades to the rank of brevet major-general of volunteers, which was conferred on him Nov. 24, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services.  Gen. Clark enlisted from Iowa, became 1st lieutenant and adjutant in the 13th Iowa infantry, Nov. 2, 1861; was promoted captain and assistant adjutant-general, March 6, 1862; major, Nov. 24, 1862; lieutenant-colonel, Feb. 10, 1863; and brigadier-general of volunteers, May 31, 1865.  He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers July 22, 1864, for distinguished service at the battle of Atlanta.  Gen. Clark was chief of staff and adjutant-general of the Army of the Tennessee until the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and afterwards commanded a brigade and a division.  Being honorably mustered out of the service, Feb. 1, 1866, he engaged in business in Galveston, Tex., and was a member of Congress from the Galveston district from 1869 to 1873.  While in Congress he secured the first appropriation of $I00,000 for the Galveston harbor, which resulted in the completion of the jetties, making Galveston one of the most important ports in the United States. At this writing (1903) Gen. Clarke is the last surviving adjutant and chief of staff of Grant's old Army of the Tennessee.

Inventory Number: ALB 021