William Clarke Short Story
William L. Clarke
By :Omar Moustafa and Eliot Grenfell
Imagine being shot 18 times at an age less than 18 and surviving . This happened to William F. Clarke at such a young age. This heroic young man was chosen to be the main subject of my project because he might be the most gallant and brave individual that stepped on the soil of the Civil war. William has a completely impressive and astonishing story. William F. Clarke was a private in Company A of the 1st Connecticut cavalry under the leadership of Union army general James H. Wilson, when Wilsons army headed toward a confederate storehouse at Danville, Virginia in June, 1864. William was one brave cavalry man ,which would recklessly charge into enemy lines as he had
done in other battles. But , on this battle his bravery might as well have had him killed. Injured on the first day of the battle William insisted on staying with the army. Then two days later ,William was ambushed by confederate and shot for the third time. Weak from blood loss ,he could not regain strength to lift himself up on the saddle. He was then captured by rebel irregulars. The rebels commanded William to hand over his weapons , but he refused. His captors then shot him fifteen times all around his body. Had that day not Confederate soldiers got to William quick enough ,he would have been bound to die. Soldiers bandaged him up and sent him off to prison camp ,where he later escaped with close to useless limbs. Although all the torment and suffering William F. Clarke had to go through ,including eight months in the hospital undergoing surgery and pain , he returned to the Union lines on March 1865. Surgeons then found out that he was not suitable to serve in the rigorous cavalry. They then order him to be discharged on May 29, 1865. So , this is why I have picked this heroic figure to be my main subject . I think he has accomplished so much in his life and is worth talking about. All the pain that he went through is to me the basis of bravery . Clarks wound might have well set a record in the Civil war.
By :Omar Moustafa and Eliot Grenfell
Imagine being shot 18 times at an age less than 18 and surviving . This happened to William F. Clarke at such a young age. This heroic young man was chosen to be the main subject of my project because he might be the most gallant and brave individual that stepped on the soil of the Civil war. William has a completely impressive and astonishing story. William F. Clarke was a private in Company A of the 1st Connecticut cavalry under the leadership of Union army general James H. Wilson, when Wilsons army headed toward a confederate storehouse at Danville, Virginia in June, 1864. William was one brave cavalry man ,which would recklessly charge into enemy lines as he had
done in other battles. But , on this battle his bravery might as well have had him killed. Injured on the first day of the battle William insisted on staying with the army. Then two days later ,William was ambushed by confederate and shot for the third time. Weak from blood loss ,he could not regain strength to lift himself up on the saddle. He was then captured by rebel irregulars. The rebels commanded William to hand over his weapons , but he refused. His captors then shot him fifteen times all around his body. Had that day not Confederate soldiers got to William quick enough ,he would have been bound to die. Soldiers bandaged him up and sent him off to prison camp ,where he later escaped with close to useless limbs. Although all the torment and suffering William F. Clarke had to go through ,including eight months in the hospital undergoing surgery and pain , he returned to the Union lines on March 1865. Surgeons then found out that he was not suitable to serve in the rigorous cavalry. They then order him to be discharged on May 29, 1865. So , this is why I have picked this heroic figure to be my main subject . I think he has accomplished so much in his life and is worth talking about. All the pain that he went through is to me the basis of bravery . Clarks wound might have well set a record in the Civil war.