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The letter lists no address for Colonel Clark, but it almost certainly shipped
to Colonel Embury Philip Clark. Like Roosevelt, Clark was a commander
of volunteers during the Spanish-American War and fought in Cuba. He
was a well-known military leader from Smith & Wesson’s home state of
Massachusetts and is featured prominently in “Springfield in the Spanish-
American War” by Walter W. Ward in 1899. Clark was a veteran of the
American Civil War and continued to serve in the state volunteer militia in
the late 19th century and into the early 20th century. During the Spanish-
American War, he was the commander of the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry Regiment. His regiment was one of only three state volunteer
units to actively participate in the campaign to capture Santiago. Colonel
Clark and his men departed from
Tampa on the Knickerbocker (Transport No. 13) on June 14th, 1898, and
landed in Cuba at Daiquiri on the 20th.
They were part of the First Brigade of the Second Division of the Fifth
Army Corps and reinforced the Rough Riders and the U.S. Cavalry after the
Battle of Las Guasimas and brought them much needed rations. On July
1, 1898, Colonel Clark and the 2nd fought in the fierce Battle of El Caney.
This was the same day that Roosevelt and the Rough Riders fought at San
Juan Hill. Unlike the Rough Riders, Clark’s men fought armed with the
outdated single shot Springfield trapdoor rifles which slowed their rate
of fire and also gave away their positions thanks to the smoke from the
black powder. They also fought during the Siege of Santiago. Like many
American soldiers in the war, Clark and more than half of his men suffered
from disease, including yellow fever, after the Spanish surrender. After
returning to the U.S., they stayed at Camp Wikoff on Montauk Point in New
York for quarantine. When they mustered out, they had lost one officer and
eight enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in action in addition to two
officers and eighty-six enlisted men lost to disease.
After the war, Clark remained involved in the Massachusetts Volunteer
Militia and took command of the First Brigade. He also served as the
sheriff of Hampden County whose capital is Smith & Wesson’s hometown
of Springfield and ran unopposed for 35 years. His first wife, Eliza Ann
Seaver, died in 1909, and he married Mae M. Zeigler in 1910. He retired
as a major general the following year. At the age of 72, he was recalled to
active service as a brigadier general with the outbreak of World War I and
organized and trained Massachusetts’s 3rd Brigade and finally retired again
in 1919. He died on July 12, 1928, from complications from appendicitis at
the age of 83.
CONDITION: Extremely fine with 85% plus of the bright original high polish
blue finish remaining, areas of flaking leaving a smooth brown patina
primarily on the cylinder, 95% plus original vibrant case colors remaining
on the hammer and trigger, and generally fairly minor age and storage
related wear. The grips are also very fine and have crisp checkering and
minimal age and handling wear. Mechanically excellent. This is one of the
rarest and most historic Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model
revolvers in the world, and its ties to the Spanish-American War make it all
the more exciting! Do not miss your opportunity to add this spectacular
revolver to your collection.
Estimate: 22,500 - 37,500
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