Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-10-28

GKN. POLK AND BEs AssAELANTs.
A friend Of Gen. Polk bss handed US fer
pubRsaiisn the following vindieation aud pre-
test which, notwithstanding its warmth Ell OK
preston, We do not feel disposed to withhold
hom the public, in view of the fact that an efsrt
seems to have been made TO f~oressall its iudg-
msnt ia the matter Of bis suspension from com
msad in the army Of Tennessee;
"When tie unfortunate difference Between
Sen. Bragg and Gen. Polk was announced 10
The country. aHd the rejoicing ever a great we
ssry prsusturoly checked BY this omiaoas sen
junction, i. was almost simultaneously accom-
psnisd By q parting address Of Gen. Polk to
ais cid corEs, ia which he m~agnanimously dis
dsined to prejudios the pubie miRd witA any
premature appeal to their Judgment. He was
not pIseed under arrest, ana feariBg that charges
migkt not be preferred, be quietly asked for a
esuri Of inquiry, and prepared to meet the in
vsstigation, neither directly nsr iEairsetlg seeksg
at present any slker tibaAsl than the verdict Of
his brother oEeers, when properly constituted
as = court Charges were subsequently, pre-
fsned BY Gen. Bragg, and they only relate (se
it noiesd) to his conduct in Delaying tho action
On the morning Of the 20th Of Ssptsaber, and
bis failure to give proper information st the
causes Of his delay promptly to his commander.
Gen. Polk hiss been at al times ready to moet
and rsfuts these charges, aud bis only fear mas
been that the investigators weuld net b en-
isrgs5 so IS fully to inform the President, Con
CESS aud the coanTy, Of the true causes Of the
SD and disastrous flilus in the army Of Ten
/ nsssse. Could these be unveiled in their fall
light and clesrness. as they have long been pal
paoAs to ssven+tsuths Of the officers Of the army,
the public eye would net rest On q broken frag
meat here or there, but would be startled and
sopsIei BY the entire aspect Of folly, timidiy,
Obstlnaey and mistake thus revealed in the full
light Of day.
These things, however, as We have sisted
ought first to be diligently investigated and
proved before a proper Hibunsli and, although
relieved Of his command stigmatizsd by charges
and deprived Of any cha &c Of assisting bis
invaded country, General Polk has still with
held any defense or counter attack, and evsz
under great provocati5n (ss hereinafter sA9wn)
he stiH sternly-as an officer and gentleman
refuses to viola.s military usage ard the proprie-
ties Of LIE, by making a bold sppeal t. the
people On the evidence, or that other igegiiHats
and uEtair mode Of furnishing through s;sf
oEosrs OF personal friends, an CT parts, untrue
version not ouly Of the bsttls Of Chlcksmsugs,
bat Of a host Of other nsttsrs shout which no
charges have been preferred or even heretofore
any written allegation produced.
We regret exceedingly that he friends of Gen.
Bragg have nos seen ft to sd0pt the naEnsHi-
nous eosTss pursued by Gen. Pslk. Lssv-
iug sut Of question the reckless attempt 20 press
the Presi5ontinto the service oftsoir chief by nan
uaetsTi1g fer him that extraordinary speech as
eribsS to him while at the -iront-skicA he adb-
eratsis r,pHdiatss-or the morality Of using the
exclusive eoatroI ofsrmy headquarters ovor tie
wires for flashing !. ever the whole Csnfedsrscy
as genuine, and as ihs Presidents decision Of
the controversy between his generals: two
separate, distinct Hnimadvorsiors On the eharae-
ter and conduct Of Gen. Polk, together with q
supposed disEnst narrative Of the facts occurring
On the morning Of the 2O.h sepssmssr, have ap-
9eared in the public newspapers. One Of
tbeE EurporirE TO be based on the statement Of
a staf oAserof Gen. Bragg, tho other repre-
senting Itself IS wrilieH by a personal friend Of
Gen. BIS 10 the editor Of the Mobile Register,
and expressing the views Of Gen B7sgg's
fisnds in The premises. This latter precious
document undertakes to drsH slenz bin Of IN
dictmsut vita various different counts sgsiRst
Gen. Polk, 10 supply irsm imagination a gross
misrepresentation of fscls and proofs 10 sustain
it, and winds up pleasantly by ~pronouaeing sz
eahksara, There is No dsabtng his bravery,
but he VIII net act PTsmply-be is too GLOW"
We rejoice exceedingly that out Of the nsuth's
Of his enemies the nerve and courage of the
General is admitted would to heaven they were
universally possessed bv al our high oEoers
aud carried into every field.
"GeRsTal Polk sBd bis friends hsvs 10 words
vita which TO characterize this malevolent,
petty, undsrhsnd warfare, and would dssiTe to
treat it with tie neglect and eoatsmpt it de-
serves, were ii not that ia tks anxious state si
t5o public mind any version, however untrue, Of
the facts attending the great battle Of Csieka-
sstuga are 50 greedily received, that az ia
preston, however false, may be created, that
hme and investigates may never fully rsmeve.
IS far easier to create thaR dispel an i~lusien,
to bald uPon lie naked rock rslher thsn remove
the debris Of former supenstrRcture, The only
means, therefore, tbst can be employed BY the
friends Of GeDarsl Polk to give kin q fair hear
ing ard yet avoid tho errors they have jRst
characterized, is to wsrR the public against these
sad bsselSss reper's, and s~olesnly sppeal
% theR 70 keep their judgment spwsrped and
tAeif prejsdiees saagoused uuiilr the Cvld nee has
been slauced before 3 military tribunal, or ustl
ths President, BY his disposition Of tbe charges,
has leh beth parties free 70 enter he arena On
terms. We, then, en- behalf Of General
Pelk, sclsmny protest sgsiast any and al en-
representations Of AIS eszauet, sud iHvits
ha ene@iss to the judgment seat, where they
have 50 uHwisely summoned him TO appear"
GENERAL BABKsBALB- Amopg the NEST aiA
tingUshsd aud pst1stie heroes who have fsiea /
q yicIE O. the present iufamyss war Of invasion
was Gen Bsrksiale, o. Mississippi President
DAVIS sEd Gen RE Lee have paid the fallen /
hero glowing compliments in letters 30 his wife. ]
extracts iTOm which are given ia the MississiB-
Biss In a letter dated July "a b. 1888. he /
c~suntTy's Chies AtEistra-e writes as follows 20
the widow Of Gen Barksdsle;
Il viii hereafter BE- sams consolation TO you. 1
as Is will be 3 Legacy Of honor 10 ais children, to /
be assured thar your gallant husband, nv
esteemed friend, fell at Che post 10 which honor