Powhatan Henry Clarke, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitter: Unknown

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Powhatan Henry Clarke was born on Ulster Plantation (Boyce Louisiana), 
Oct. 9, 1862.  He was the son of Louise Frances Boyce and Powhatan 
Clarke and was a grandson of Judge Henry Boyce and Irene Archinard. 
After graduating West Point, Powhatan was a lieutenant in the 10th U.S. 
Cavalry.   He received a Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in 
an 1885 battle.  He became friends with Frederick Remington when 
Remington was assigned to cover the West, serving as subject for 
several of Remington's paintings and drawings.  His troop captured 
the renegade indian chief Geronimo.
He Married a Mary Clemens and had one son, Powhatan H. Clarke Jr. 
He died tragically in a swimming accident on July 21, 1893 in Fort 
Custer Montana.
The attached cover of Harper's Weekly is an illustration of the 
painting Remington painted of Clarke saving Corporal Scott, the act 
for which he was awarded his Congressional Medal of Honor.  There was 
much made of the fact that Clarke risked his life for that of one of 
his black soldiers and of the affection and respect both officer and 
soldier had for each other. 
?
Marching in the Desert, is an illustration by Remington of his Arizona 
Territory 1888, a monochrome oil on canvas. It was one of twelve 
illustrations which accompanied his article "A Scout with the Buffalo 
Soldiers" published in Century Magazine in 1889. The soldiers in the 
painting represented the group Remington joined as they traveled 
hundreds of miles from Fort Grand to Fort Thomas to the San Carlos 
Indian Agency and back. Captain Powhatan H. Clarke is at the head of 
the troop, followed by Remington, who wears a standard army summer 
pith helmet. The original hangs at the University of Wyoming in the 
George A. Rentschler Room of the American Heritage Center.