The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

Was it suicide?

This is a very brief account of a Union solider who's fate at Camp Chase listed his death as suicide. His name was John E. Clark and his Confederate tombstone reflects him being in Company G of the 3 Virginia Cavalry. His hospital records found at the National Archives reported his death due to a pistol ball in the right side.

Fold 3 has him listed in the same company and regiment only with the West Virginia Cavalry. How he ended up with a Confederate tombstone in a Confederate Cemetery still has not been determined. Clark had been taken prisoner by the Confederates and paroled at Chase and was awaiting to be properly exchanged.

It appears to me that someone got away with murder.

Messages In This Thread

Was it suicide?
Re: Was it suicide?