He graduated the Naval Academy in 1863 and served on the screw sloop Ossipee during the Civil War for the Battle of Mobile Bay.

His father (James Dayton Clark) was acquaintanced with the Honorable Justin S. Morrill, and wrote to him asking for an appointment for Charles to the Military Academy.

He first reported to the superintendent of the Naval Academy, Captain George S. Blake, and began working on the ship Constitution, or “Old Ironsides”, with C. R. P. Rodgers, Edward Simpson, Stephen B. Luce, and Lieutenants Flusser, John Taylor Wood, Hunter Davidson, and William H.

[1] Rumors of war influenced a rising unrest at the Academy, and students’ desire to leave school to be part of a fight was stronger than ever.

They spent time in France and New York, where they were towed into Long Island Sound by the steamer Freeborn shortly before she sank.

He stayed on the Ossipee (which was under the command of John P. Gillis) for the Battle of Mobile Bay and in the bombardment of Fort Morgan, which was all of his Civil War service.

The voyage of the Oregon was hailed a remarkable achievement in its day, and pointed to the need for the Panama Canal to reduce travel time between the east and west coasts of the United States.

With a squadron of other ships; Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Iowa, Texas, Marblehead, and New Orleans, they set up a blockade intended to last until July.

Admiral Clark was a Veteran Companion of the Vermont Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.