The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-02-29
A Fragment OF the Personal History
or the Rebellion:

A Fragment OF the Personal History
or the Rebellion:
Our Representative in Congress,
Hon. G. D. Hubbard, has introduced
into the House OF Representatives
bill for the relief of Mrs. Mary A.
Clarke, of Harrison county. Mrs.
Clarke is the widow of Lieut.. Leonard
Clarke, Company E, Sd (west) Virginia
Cavalry, who was killed In charge
against the enemy at Moore6eld, in
the fall of 1854 Cif we are not mistaken
in the date.) When the rebellion first
broke out, Leonard Clarke, who then
resided at Bridgeport, Harrison coun.
ty, promptly entered the service as
scout and guide for the Union army.
he was man Of intrepid courage and
splendid physique, and being well ac-
quRinted with the mountainous region
in which our armies operated, was
admirably adapted to the service.
While Porter6sld was encamped at
PhillIppa, before any Union troops had
penetrated that region, Mr.. Clarke, in
company with Mr.. Myers, of Clarks-
burg, undertook scout on his own ac-
count within the enemy's lines at Phil
lippa. They were discovered and fred
upon by the. enemy's sentries. Myers
was captured and Clarke's horse shot
under him. This was shortly after
dark. Clarke took to the woods. A
general alarm was given, and he was
pursued by cavalry during all that
night and the greater part of next day.
BE was frequently surrounded and In
the utmost peril, and several times es-
capped almost by miracle. Probably no
one of less nerve and endurance could
have escaped at all. He did at length
evade his pursuers and reached home
worn out, bareheaded, with shoes torn
of and clothing in tatters.
Very soon after this the Union troops
under Gen. Morris, of Indiana, reach
ed Grafton. Mr.. Clarke at once volun-
teered his services as guide and scout,
and they were accepted. This was
about the first of June, 1861. From
that time till the last of July, he was
constantly engaged in this perilous
service in connection with the army
operations at Laurel Hill, Rich Noun
tain and Cheat Summit. On the SOth
of July he was on a scout to Big
Spring, In company with DIR. Fletch-
er, ofIndianapolis. They were am
buscaded, and Fletcher was taken.
Clarke got away and could have made
his escape, but the. rebels (who knew
Clarke and were anxious to capture
him) called to him that unless he return
ed land gave himself up they would shoot
Fletcher on the spot. Clarke being per-
suaded they would execute their threat
returned and became a voluntary pris-
oner. The prisoners were carried to
staunton where they were kept short
time and Fletcher released. Clarke
who was we'll known as a daring
Union scout, was In imminent
danger of being executed as spy,
and he always believed he was
spared only through the friendly
gone from about ClarksbHrg, and
whom he had known before the war.
He was sent to Fincastle, in Botetourt
county, w., where he was placed in
close confinement and kept for 1--WE
belieVe) more than year. He was at
length taken from Fincastle to Rich
mond and confined In Castle Thunder,
and after many months alienation be-
tween hopes and fears he was ex-
changed. While he was at Richmond,
Governor Peirpolnt. who took a great
interest In the case, made repeated
efforts throught the authorities at Wash
ington to have him exchanged, but his
efforts were unayallIng. Clarke being
civilian, and owing allegiance to
Virginia Gas the rebels claimed), they
refused to exchange him, and we be-
lieve he was only exchanged at last by
contrIving to be mistaken for another
person.
While fu prison at Richmond he
formed the acquaintance OF Colonel
Palmer, q Pennsylvania cavalry officer,
whose regiment was In Tennessee un-
der Rosecrans. Both being released at
once Clarke after briet visit to his
family, accompanied Col. Palmer TO
Tennessee, the latter having voluntari-
ly promised to obtain for him a commis-
sion in his regiment. Shortly after their
/ arrival in Tennessee, Jones made MS
raid into West Virginia and, Clarke
hearing of it and eager to serve his
own State returned at once to West
Virginia. he was a man of fine abili-
ties and we'll qualified to command a
regiment, but he was as modest as he
was brave aud capable. His brother
in-law, Capt. t. f. Roane, present
Sheriff of Harrison county, was a
Iieutant in Company e, srd [west)
Virginia Cavalry. Clarke attached
himself to this company in the capacity
of a private and served in that capacity
until the Captaincy became vacant. BE
was offered this position by Lieutenant
Roane, whowas next in line of promo
tion, but refused to take It. When Lit.
Roane became Captain. Clarke was
made Lieutenant and served in that
capacity till hewas killed.
The claim which has been introduced
lin oongress for the relief OF Lieut..
oIarke,s widow, Is for the pay which
he was entitled 70 as scout dur
inRa the term Of his long and severe
imprisonmsnt, which lasted twenty
months. Al thetlme of capture he was