Clark Lawrence Sherman
3rd great-granduncle of Dorotha Piechocki
Private Co. B 44th Illinois Infantry
Dates of Service: 13 Sep 1861 - 25 Sep 1865
Clark Lawrence Sherman was born in Cayuga County, New York, Feb. 27th, 1839, a son of Daniel Elias and Betsy Cole Sherman. By 1850 Clark and four of his siblings were in Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan. In 1860, Clark and the four siblings had settled in Bethel Township, Branch Co., Michigan.
On Aug. 6th, 1861, Clark and his older brother Amos enlisted with Co. B, 44th Illinois Infantry, mustering on Sep. 13th in Chicago.
On the 2nd of February, 1862, General Curtis having assumed command of the army, it again took up the march toward Springfield, where the rebel General Price had concentrated his forces, with the avowed determination of giving battle should he be attacked. But he failed to come, and the Union forces again took possession of the city on the 13thday of February without serious opposition. Then began an exciting chase--this Regiment being continually in advance, till it reached Camp Halleck, Benton County, Arkansas. On the 20th, when the pursuit was abandoned, the troops were allowed a few days' rest, having marched four consecutive days during the most inclement weather, there being six inches of snow on the ground a portion of the time, and skirmishing with the enemy every day during the last week's march. Here they remained till the 5th of March, when it became evident that the combined forces of Van Dorn, Price and McCullough were marching to give battle, and accordingly on the 6th, moved toward Sugar Creek Valley, under the command of Curtis, Sigel, Davis and Asboth, and in the afternoon of the same day the rear guard was attacked and repulsed by the enemy. Thus began the terrible battle of Pea Ridge, which resulted so disastrously to the rebels, in which this Regiment took a prominent part.
After the enemy had been routed this was one of the regiments selected to follow up his retreat, which was done for three days, capturing one stand of colors, taking many hundred prisoners and several pieces of artillery. Remaining in this vicinity till the 5th day of April, the march was resumed for Forsythe, Missouri, and thence to Batesville, Arkansas, on the White River. When the army was reorganized, it being now in the Brigade commanded by Colonel Osterhaus, and on the 8th of May crossed the river, and as was supposed, took up the line of march toward Little Rock. They had not gone far when orders were received to return to Batesville and march to Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi River, two hundred miles distant, and from thence to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, by water, to reinforce the troops then besieging Corinth, Mississippi. Arriving at Plttsburg Landing on the 26th of May, the next day they marched up within supporting distance of the main army, arriving two days previous to the evacuation. After the evacuation, the regiment was attached to Major General Pope's Army and sent in pursuit of the retreating foe; but the roads were so bad that the pursuit was abandoned after a few days, and on the 12th of June, it returned to Rienzi, Mississippi, and went into camp, remaining there until August 26.
Cincinnati and Covington being threatened by the enemy, the Brigade, consisting of the 2nd and 15th Missouri, 36th and 44th Illinois, under command of Colonel Greusel of the 36th Illinois, was ordered to those places, to protect them from the assaults of the enemy. It arrived at Cincinnati about the 1st of September and immediately crossed the river to Covington, Kentucky, where it remained until the 17th, when it became known that the enemy had withdrawn from the front and were then moving upon Louisville. The Brigade recrossed the river to Cincinnati, and embarked on board the cars for Louisville, arriving on the 19th, and remained till the 1st of October.
Here the command was again reorganized, under Major General Buell--this Regiment being assigned to the 35thBrigade, 11th Division, Army of the Ohio, and started on the memorable campaign after Bragg through Kentucky. The Regiment was engaged in the battle of Perryville on the 8th of October, being in the Division commanded by General P. H. Sheridan. After the battle, it followed the retreating foe to Crab Orchard. On the 20th of October it marched toward Bowling Green, where it arrived on the 1st of November. Here General Rosecrans assumed command of the army. On the 4th of November it took up the line of march toward Nashville, arriving on the 7th, thus relieving the garrison at that place and reopening communication with Louisville. It remained here till the 26th of December, when the army moved against the rebel forces at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where it was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps, Colonel Schaffer commanding the Brigade, General Sheridan the Division, and General McCook the Corps. In the bloody battle of Stones River the Regiment took a prominent part, losing more than half its number in killed and wounded.
The 44th remained with the army at Murfreesboro till the 26th of June, 1863, when it again marched to meet the enemy and was engaged at Hoover's Gap, Shelbyville, and Tullahoma, Tennessee. Arriving at Cowan Station on the 2nd of July, it remained there for a few days, when it marched to Stevenson, Alabama, driving the rear of the rebel army across the Tennessee River at Bridgeport, Alabama. Then it returned to Stevenson, Alabama, and remained till the 21st of August, when the movement against Chattanooga, Tennessee began. This Corps (the 20th) crossed Sand Mountain and moved down the valley towards Rome, Georgia, and had reached a point within 27 miles of the latter place when the balance of the army was attacked near Chickamauga by the rebel forces under Bragg and Longstreet. The 44th was ordered to return immediately and rejoin the main army. After three days and nights forced marches, it arrived on the field in time to take part in the bloody conflict of September 19 and 20, 1863. Falling back to Chattanooga, Tennessee, it remained there on quarter rations till the latter part of November.
"This monument to the 44th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry is in recognition of their service during the Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863. This marker indicates the position of the 44th from 11:00 am to 11:30 p.m. on September 20, 1863. The 44th Illinois Infantry was organized at Chicago, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on September 25, 1861 This is one of two markers to the 44th Illinois on the battlefield."
"On the 25th of November this Regiment was foremost in the desperate charge upon Mission Ridge, Gen. Sheridan giving it praise for having placed one of the first flags on the rebel works. Following the enemy next day it captured many prisoners and several pieces of artillery, and on the 27th was ordered back to Chattanooga to prepare for a forced march to Knoxville, 150 miles distant, to relieve the forces there then being besieged by the rebel forces under the command of General Longstreet. It arrived at Knoxville three days after the siege had been raised by General Burnside. The 20th and 21st Corps having been consolidated at Chattanooga, the 44th was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps--Colonel F. T. Sherman commanding the Brigade, General Sheridan the Division, and General Granger the Corps. From Knoxville it marched to Severville, and after staying there a few days, were ordered back to Knoxville, and from there out on the E. T. and V. railroad to Strawberry Plains, where it was reported the enemy had made a stand and offered battle: but this proved a mistake, and the Regiment went into camp at Blain's Cross Roads.
Here the troops were on the point of starvation several times, having for days at a time nothing but corn in the ear, and but a limited supply of that. Nothing could more fully prove the patriotism of the men than the fact that here, on the point of starvation, exposed to the most inclement weather, it being so cold that the ink would freeze to the pen as the men signed their names, over 3/4 of the men voluntarily consented to serve three years more for that government for which they had suffered so much during the past two years and a half. [Clark was among those who re-enlisted for another three years. Soon after, he was promoted to Corporal.]
The regiment remained here until about the 12th of January, 1864, when it marched to Dandridge, Tennessee, where on the 16th and 17th, an attack was made by the enemy: and, after considerable hard fighting, it becoming evident that the whole rebel army was advancing, the Union forces fell back to Knoxville, and from there marched to Kingston, Tennessee, when a stand was made till the 30th of January, when they were ordered to Chattanooga to receive veteran furloughs. They arrived at that place on the 3rd of February, and drew full rations from the Government for the first time in four months. They started for home on the 18th, and reached Chicago on the 1st of March. On the 4th the men were furloughed and started for home. From the time the Regiment left its rendezvous, in September 1861, up to the time of re-enlistment, it had marched over 5,000 miles.
On the 14th day of April, the Regiment reached Nashville, Tennessee, on its way back to the field. On the 16th, it marched toward Chattanooga, arriving there on the 30th. The next day it started for Cleveland, Tennessee, where it arrived on the 3rd of May, and was immediately ordered to the front with the main army, which had just begun its movements toward Atlanta. The Regiment passed through nearly all the battles and skirmishes of this ever memorable campaign, and entered Atlanta on the 8th day of September with the main army. Among the many battles and skirmishes in which this Regiment was engaged during the campaign, might be mentioned Buzzard Roost, Rocky Faced Mountain, Resaca, Adaireville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Culp's Farm, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro. After staying at Atlanta two weeks, it was on the 28th of September ordered to Chattanooga, where it remained till the 18th of October, when in company with the rest of the Division (2nd) it was sent on a reconnoitering expedition to Alpine Valley, about 40 miles distant. On the 1st of November it was ordered to Athens, Alabama, for the purpose of intercepting the rebel army under General Hood, now marching toward Nashville, Tennessee. From Athens it marched to Pulaski, Tennessee, and made preparations to give battle should the enemy attack; but it soon became apparent that its numbers were far too small to cope successfully with the rebel hordes. On the 22nd, commenced falling back towards Nashville, closely followed by the enemy. There was more or less fighting every day until the 30th of November. Arriving at Franklin, Tennessee, General Schofield, then in command, determined to offer battle. The conflict was short, but one of the most desperate in which the Regiment was ever engaged. The Brigade commander, Colonel Opdyke, afterward in a general order, by the authority of the general commanding, gave the honor of gaining the victory and saving the army to this Brigade. The next day reached Nashville, and the Regiment again took part in the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, and followed the broken and scattered columns of the rebel force to the Tennessee River. On the 5th of January, 1865, went into camp at Huntsville, Alabama.
Thus ended the war in the Department of the Cumberland. On the 29th of March the Regiment was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee, and then to Bull's Gap and Blue Springs, East Tennessee, where it remained till the 19th of April, when the rebel army of Virginia having surrendered to General Grant, the Corps (the 4th) was ordered to Nashville, where it arrived on the 22nd, and for a few weeks indulged the vain hope that it was now going to be mustered out of service. This illusion was soon dispelled by receiving orders to go to New Orleans. On the 15th of June, the 44th started for the Crescent City, arriving on the 22nd. After lying there till the 18th of July, it was ordered to Texas and embarked on board steamer for Indianola. Landed at Port Lavaca on the 22nd, and went into camp on the LaPlasido River, where it remained until the 25th of September, 1865, when it was mustered out and placed en route for Springfield, Illinois. Arrived at Springfield October 15, 1865, where it received final payment and discharge." ~ Adjutant General's Report
Clark Sherman had fought in 38 battles, was a brigade sharpshooter, and been part of General Sherman's March to Atlanta. Suffering a gunshot wound in battle near Adairsville, Georgia, on May 17, 1864, he remained with his regiment for the duration of the war. After mustering out at Port Lavaca, Texas, Clark finally returned to Branch County, Michigan, where on February 25, 1868, he married Rosaline McNitt. 1870 found the couple farming in Ovid, Branch County, the parents of two small children. Ten years later, still farming, their family had grown to six.
"In 1889 Clark and Rosaline purchased acreage at Sans Souci Beach, Coldwater Lake, in Ovid Township. As time went on, Clark became a 'well known and picturesque figure of Sans Souci,' often entertaining the residents of Sans Souci with his tales of the war, earning him the names 'Cap Sherman' and 'Comrade Sherman.' " - written by Judy Sherman
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Clark was enumerated on the 1890 Veterans Schedule for Ovid, having served for 4 years,
1 month, and 7 days, receiving a pension for heart disease and asthma.
Clark and Rosaline had seven children: Alger, Jennie, Albertia, Lizzie, and Clifford; sons James and Willie died as infants.
Rosaline died in 1903 and was buried in Lester Cemetery, Algansee, Branch. Clark remained in Ovid for the next 25 years and never remarried. He passed away April 24, 1928 in Branch County,
Michigan, and was buried beside his wife in Lester Cemetery, Algansee, Branch.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES: findagrave; wikipedia; Ancestry; the Illinois genweb; Fold3;
garrecords.org
GRAVESITE: Lester Cemetery, Algansee, Branch County, MI
Written by Dorotha Piechocki, May 2020