Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-06-16
LETTER FROM THE ARLY.
p.-Trrrrrr1 ErrSrsAw MoUHTarH q

BATTLEFIELD, kKNNEaAW MOUNTAIN GA I
June IA, 1864.
EDS. APPEAL: There hsa been but little lighting to-
day. This morning the enemy showed s deposition to
advance, but did not do 30. BE could be seen very dis
HnciIy from tie mountain, throwing up werkS and
planting his batteries. It is astonishing with Whist ra-
pidty the Yankees dig trenches, cut down trees and pre-
pare other means of defense. It is only the work Of a
night to build works quite formidable. They under
stand the shovel and spade bstssr than our men there
fore we EhOsld not sndesYor 20 compete with them In
this line Of business, but advance on them before they
havs had time to bring this talent of theira into rsquIst
ton. Twas in hopes oar generals had learned this much
years ago.
II there is to be no more re treating Of this army, We
shall have q great struggle near this place before many
days have come and gone. I have no fears Of the re-
suit The spirits OF the army continue good, notwith-
standing the continued retreat and the ~hsrdShiPs 1t has
had to under go during the last six wsekE
But Che army this evening Is almost overwhelmed
with gloom, as one Of its favorite generals Is no more
Lasat.-Gen- Polk. He was killed this morning, halfafter
ten o'clock. with q 10pound parrot shot from The en-
emys battery, scme half a mile in front Of the position
occupied by Bates division. He was In company with
Gems. Johnston and Hsrdss, and = part Of bis staff. The
party Tss making 8 rseonRoissancs in front Of the
mountain, to ascertain the position of tie enemy and his
designs, when the fatal shot toek effect on the beloved
general, killing him Instantly. He was terribly man
gIsd Tbs ball passed through the left arm, just above
the elbow, cutting the arm almost Of, then entering The
body, passing through the spleen, stomach and liver,
ssvsrlng the back bone AID coming out On the opposite
dds, almost cutting the right arm of just below the
elbow.
Our loss is great, but We must Avsngs his death
There is one death more to settle with the hated foe.
The gloom that now hangs over tbs army win psss
away, to be followed By a determination to hght with a
desperation never known before. Gen Polk was be-
loved by his corps and the entire army. He has been
through some Of the greatest battles In the West, He
has, a. the country knows. fought through Belmont
Shiloh, PsTyvile, Murfressbsro', C~hiesmsuga He has
At last died where the soldier likes to die, on the battle
Geld, ia defense OF human rights and the prosperity Of
his country.
1t. Gen. Polk gone We can hardly realize It. This
morning sitting down at bis quarters In the finest spirits
and hopsfal Of 8 eruEhing victory over the enemy in the
impending struggle, and now he isa corpse . He was
truly one Of the generals who had q hold upon the az
lotions Of the soldiers. He loved he troops and the
troops loved him. Before the battle Of Shiloh, the sol
dlsrs got an idea that he wsS very distant and hard up
on his men. But after the battle OF Shiloh, when night
lowered over the fields Of two bloody days, and the
Polk, away about two O'Clock At night, visited the in
frms-ies, passing up and down where the soldiers were
lying, speaking words Of e0mfor; to them-eallIng them
ha brave troops, and asking them to bear their suffer
ings like christians and soldiers. He was much affected
st this scene and told them they deserved well Of their
country. MEMPHIS.