Nicholas Bayard Clinch facts for kids

Nicholas Bayard Clinch was an important person during the American Civil War. He was a commander in the army of the Confederate States of America. He was also a farmer and an inventor.

Early Life and Family

Nicholas Bayard Clinch was born in Louisiana in 1832. He was the seventh of eight children in his family. His father was Duncan Lamont Clinch, Sr. He was a general who fought in the War of 1812. He was also a farmer and served the public.

Nicholas's mother was Eliza Bayard McIntosh. His older brother, Duncan L. Clinch, Jr., became a colonel in the Confederate army. His sister, Eliza Bayard Clinch, married General Robert Anderson. General Anderson was a Union commander who defended Fort Sumter at the start of the Civil War.

Nicholas graduated from South Carolina College in 1849. This school is now known as the University of South Carolina.

Military Service During the Civil War

Nicholas Clinch joined the Confederate army in December 1862. He started as a private soldier. Within a year, he was promoted to first lieutenant. He became an adjutant for the 4th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Cavalry. His older brother, Duncan, was in charge of this group.

In the fall of 1863, Nicholas became a captain. He commanded his own artillery group, called "Clinch’s Light Battery". This group was named after him.

Fighting at Fort McAllister

Captain Clinch's Light Battery fought in many battles. One important battle was the defense of Fort McAllister near Savannah, Georgia. This happened during the Second Battle of Fort McAllister (1864) on December 13, 1864. His battery helped protect the fort from the forces of General Sherman.

During this battle, Nicholas Clinch was badly wounded many times. He was cut by a sword and shot through his shoulder. Even with his injuries, he kept fighting. He only stopped when he could no longer stand. He was taken to a nearby farm. Everyone thought he would not survive.

He was later moved to a hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina. He spent three months there, having many surgeries. Eventually, his brother Houston took him home to recover. Nicholas never fully regained his strength. An obituary later said he was known as "the most wounded Confederate soldier who lived to tell of the strife." He was promoted to major while he was recovering.

Inventions and Later Years

After the war, Nicholas Bayard Clinch became an inventor. In 1883, he applied for a patent for a new design for a sulkie. A sulkie is a light, two-wheeled cart pulled by a horse. His design made the ride smoother for the passenger.

He also patented a special carriage for toddlers and small children. The patent for this invention was approved just two days before he passed away.

Nicholas Bayard Clinch died in Green Cove Springs, Florida, on March 16, 1888. He was buried in the Clinch family vault at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. He never married and did not have any children.