Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-04
rnLK.
J0rrespondenoe Of the New OrIean, Detail
RrruuOED Va TunA

EHiAN3fN-~-N va t-N -''" N@ -Ni@l
BIcHMoSD, Va, June %.
The disposition Of the Confederate Govern
meut to officer its army, as far as possible,
with men Of military education or long militia
~ experience, cannot but be well known, since
it has been clearly enough manifested. What
some, perhaps, might consider an extreme H.
lus ration Of this disposition has Just occurred
in the appointment Of Bishop Polk, Of Lou
i%sians, as naior-gsneral in the provisional
army Of the Confederate Sta'es. But this IS not
so violent a transition 10 life and function as
would at first view appear. The bishop was
a soldier before be was an ecclesiastic, hav-
ing been a cadet at West Point, where he
graduated in the same class, il | mistake not,
with President Davis and several Cf the gem
erals Row serving the Confederate Govern
mcht. Though for thirty years disconnected
from military stu3y and vocation, and engaged
in spiritual Offices, his ecclesiastical robes
could not conceal him from the searching eve
Of the president, at whose special instance il
was that be came to r chmond several weeks
ago. Tn object Of soliciting bis presence at
Richmond is now made known in the appoint
meHt before mentioned. The Bishop for some
time hesitatod to accept IT,. He pleaded that,
though once an ardent military student, he was
"rusty" in the technicaliies and details Of
war. he was answered that, like swimming,
military knowledge and soldierly habits, &C.
4AlltA III ltF impItNSl1it DEtlOQ OF YOUTH,
were never wholly forgotten, and could al
ways be readily recovered. Then there was
the ecciesiastical difficulty in the WRv, 10
which It was urged ia t, originally a soldier
from The South, be had only been lent to the
church, and that bis country bad a right to
claim him back in the present emergency and
enjoy the benefit Of his military services until
The dav Of danger WAS past. The time it was
argued, YVES exceptional, and would iustifv the
ourrpHran1N fnUNanna - r. hfvh xa.T.nr--Af.
possessing military qualifications, d~evoting
them, for the special occasion, to the service
Of his country.
thus merely glance at the reasoning which
prevailed upon the bishop TO accent the
appointment Of msjor- general; and feel sure
that the reasoning will be iSdorsed as c%ouclu-
siye and the appointment as satisfactory by
sensible and liberal citizens everywhere in he
South. Il is proper 90 say that the bishop does
not give up his ecclesiastical Office. Like the
lUsty parson who, being compelled to fight a
bully, took of bis black coat and viii cravRt
and placed them on a stump, it'll the remark:
day there, Methodist, while chastise this
i~nsUlent scouudreI," and when the whaIe-ome
job was finished, put them IN again and vent
on bis way, hunming cold Hundredp-the
bishop does not rencnnce his spiritual calling,
but only lays aside his robs awhile until the
northern bravo who threatens church and Safe
and all that ia dear to the southern people, is
duiv chastisel aud disabled from harm.
The command to which General Polk is as
signed, Il must now call him by his military
title is one of great Importance to the people
OF the lower Mississippi Valley.
1t embraces the river counties OF Arkansas
and Mississippi, including Corinth and the adj
jacent country, and hat portion Of North Ala
bama to the Tennessee river at Decatur: the
river parishes Of Louisiana north Of the Red
river. and that part OF Tennessee west and
south OF the Tennessee river. | understand
that biz department is Likely to 5s geographic
callY extended 80 az to embrace Wes'ern Ar
kansas, and touch the borders Of the Indian
Territory and OF Southwestern Missouri. All
the troops within the limits Of the department
designated will be under his c%oHtrol, and the
brigadier- generals and such maior-gsneraIs "a
may ba commanding within The same limits,
will be subject to bis orders. His headquarters
will be at Memphis, or at any other point
which be may hereafter select within the de-
paTtment.
It is the purpose OF General Polk on taking
comman to address himself Immediately to the
procuring OF arms for the use OF hia department.
He proposes to establish a central ordnance
depot, from which agents will be sent to scour
! the country for the purchase of private arms.
In Tennessee and Mississippi, there are foun-
dries and workshops in which he designs to
have old muske's and rifles converted into
minnie guns, and bavonets, swords and knives
manufactured. He has al eady 4 park Of artil-
lefy for bis de apartment. Gen Polk has a fine
organizing head; be feels confident in his plan.
VrcE-PREsDFNT STEPHENs.-The Augusta
(Ga.) Chronicle Of The och ult., has the fol-