This stencil was excavated and shows some creases and corrosion but the soldier’s name and hometown are clear: “OWEN S. CLARK / Cape Island / N. J.” Cape Island was the former name of modern Cape May, N.J., with the original “island” designation deriving from its separation from the mainland by a creek, with the name changed in 1875 as the community expanded from village to borough and to city.

Clark was born 18 December 1840 to John and Ann L. Clark, and seems to have had an older brother, David (b. 1838) and younger brother, Jesse (b. 1842.) His father apparently died by the 1850 census, which indicates the family was broken up to live with relatives in Galloway, NJ: Ann Clark living with son Jesse in the household of Daniel Leids, likely her grandfather; David with Jesse Leeds (Ann’s father;) and, Owen in the household of Micajah and Elizabeth Smith, whose connection we do not know. Ann died in 1856. The boys probably continued with their relatives for some time.

Owen enlisted for three years at age 21 at Trenton, NJ. in Co. A of the 7^th New Jersey on 8/23/61. The regiment was fully organized by the beginning of September, but understrength. Nevertheless, seven companies were rushed to the front Sept. 19 and the remaining three in October. In December it was brigaded with the 5^th, 6^th and 8^th NJ in Hooker’s Division as the Third Brigade, though informally known as the 2^nd New Jersey Brigade, and in March 1862 they became part of the 3^rd Army Corps. On the Peninsula the regiment fought at Williamsburg, taking heavy casualties, and saw action also at Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale and Malvern Hill, and later saw action at Groveton, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly and then at Fredericksburg. At Chancellorsville in May 1863 it lost 6 killed, 43 wounded and 4 missing.

At Gettysburg the regiment carried 331 men onto the field and was involved in Sickles’s misguided creation of a salient by pushing his corps forward on July 2 and was in the heavy fighting when Longstreet attacked, losing 15 killed, 86 wounded and 6 missing. The mortally wounded included the regiment’s Colonel and Owen Clark, who was wounded in the leg (by one report, in both legs.) He was evacuated to Baltimore where he was placed in “West’s Buildings” of the General Hospital, six warehouses converted to hospital use with a capacity of about 400 beds. He died there on July 20 when his wound hemorrhaged and was buried the next day in Baltimore’s Loudon Park Cemetery.

He was later reinterred in the Smithville Burial Ground in Smithville, Atlantic County, NJ., likely at the instigation of his two brothers, who seem to have served in the army also: Jesse in the 57^th NY, where he, too, suffered a leg wound; and, David in the 2^nd NJ Cavalry. There is research yet to be done that might flesh out a very interesting, if somewhat sad, history. David died in 1881 and Jesse in 1898.

The condition of the stencil is quite good, excavated, with green and gray tones, but the lettering is clear with just slight corrosion on “Cl” of his last name and “a” in Island. New Jersey Civil War material is scarce and sought after. That he was a casualty at Gettysburg makes this especially scarce.

Accompanied by records from the National Archives.  [sr] [ph:L]

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