William Lafayette Clark (September 7, 1848 - February 25, 1912) served as a corporal in Company F, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.
Personal life[]
William Clark was born September 7, 1848 in Johnson County, Tennessee to Silas Green and Nancy Jane (Morley) Clark. He married Elizabeth Caroline Baker (1852-1920) with whom he had eleven children.[1]
Civil War service[]
Clark enlisted as a private in Company F on September 21, 1863 in Elizabethton, Tennessee for a period of three years. He was initially rejected by the mustering officer on October 28, 1863 for being "under size", which was likely to his only being 15 years old at the time.[2] Clark was eventually mustered in November 8, 1863 at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. He was appointed corporal on January 26, 1865.
He is described as 18 years old, 5' 3 1/2" tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a farmer.
Clark is listed as present for duty throughout his term of service for which muster roll records have survived.
Clark mustered out with the regiment on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville. He had last been paid to August 31, 1864, owed $13.12 to the government for clothing, had been paid a $25 bounty, and was owed a $75 bounty.
Post-war life[]
Clark applied for an invalid's pension on March 29, 1889. He died February 25, 1912 in Butler, Tennessee and was initially buried at Rainbolt Cemetery; his grave was moved to Butler Memorial Cemetery in ["New"] Butler, Tennessee due to the construction of Watauga Reservoir. Clark's wife applied for a widow's pension on April 9, 1912.
Notes[]
- ↑ 1900 U.S. Census, 5th Civil District, Johnson County, Tennessee.
- ↑ The minimum height for U.S. soldiers was set at 5 feet, 3 inches tall. See, Exams and Disqualifications for Military Service, National Museum of Civil War Medicine.