Duncan Lamont Clinch

General Duncan Lamont Clinch

Duncan Lamont Clinch (April 6, 1787 – October 28, 1849) was an American army officer and served as a commander during the First and Second Seminole Wars. He also served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Georgia.

Born in North Carolina, Clinch was a career soldier serving primarily on frontier posts when the First Seminole War broke out in 1816. While commanding forces in southern Georgia, Colonel Clinch was ordered by General Andrew Jackson to attack Seminole positions at Negro Fort, an abandoned British fort along the Apalachicola River which had become a safe haven for escaped slaves, and recover runaway slaves in hiding at the fort.

Supported by gunboats, Clinch's attack on the outpost caused a major incident when an explosion, resulting from naval artillery hitting the fort's powder magazine, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Seminoles and slaves, contributing to the beginning of the First Seminole War.

"I had been taught when living at St. Augustine to regard General Clinch as a strict unfeeling disciplinarian but I learned how good men are often maligned. To me he was the reverse, for his bearing was most fatherly, always available to others and beaming with kindness. Picture the image of an old gray-haired man of 5 ft. 10 inches, of muscular build, weighing over 250 pounds, sitting upon the dirt floor, giving counsel and comfort to a poor dying private soldier. That was the true General Duncan L. Clinch, called by his contemporary officers The Spartan General. His ways were plain and simple, living in a tent like all the other soldiers, excepting he had a bed and mattress to sleep upon. His food was plain and many times I saw him dining with his staff on pork and beans, occasionally getting a beef day like the rest of us. Now and then he would have an extra dish of Indian Corn. He only drank water and many times I fetched a pitcher for him from the large round pond or spring outside the Camp. When we lived at the Driver's house, I lived with him, my medicine chest being close to his door. I was the first he saw on rising in the morning and the last at night and when we were in the field, my Hospital tent was immediately in front of the General's. So plain were his habits that he was no burden to the Army for even when on the move his only requisition was a campstool. Other Generals such as Scott required a band of music, with a company of professional cooks and servants in attendance." Steward John Bemrose Second Seminole War 1865.

Clinch would also see service during the Second Seminole War serving with Major Francis L. Dade before his death in 1849 in Macon, Georgia.

Honors

Clinch County, Georgia was named for Clinch.[1]

Fort Clinch (and Fort Clinch State Park) on Amelia Island, Florida is named for Clinch. The Fort is at 2601 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.

Family

His son, Colonel Duncan Lamont Clinch Jr., commanded the 4th Georgia Cavalry CSA during the American Civil War. This unit fought at the Battle of Olustee in Florida, and also in the Atlanta campaign later in 1864. He was also the father-in-law of Robert Anderson (Civil War), commander of Fort Sumter.

Another son, Captain Nicholas Bayard Clinch (1832 - 1888), was commander of "Clinch's Light Battery", or as "Clinch's Artillery Company, a division of older brother Duncan's 4th Georgia Volunteer Cavalry CSA and an inventor. [2] [3]

Notes

  1. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 85.
  2. ↑ A Brief History of Captain N.B. Clinch’s Artillery Company
  3. ↑ Two Wheeled Vehicle Patent Grant Nicholas Bayard Clinch

References

Further reading