Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-07-06
From the Augusta Constitutionalst.
A Full and Circnmstantial Account of the
Fall of 1t. Gen. Polk.


The body Of Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk
now lies in bloody state in the chamber of St. Lukes
Church of this city.
1t reached Atlanta at two o'clock this morning
1t had been encased in substantial wooden coffin
at Marietta and was escorted by Lieutenants Polk
and Gales son and son-in-law Of the General, and
Major Douglas West, one of his Adjutants General
Service will be said by DR.. Quintard at noon, and
the lamented remains will proceed on the afternoon
train to Augusta and thence to Asheville, in North
Carolina, where the bereaved family are at present
residing.
The fall of Gen. Polk is the saddest event which has
ever occurred in this army since the death Of Albert
Sidney Johnston mo event." says the Gonted-
sracy with great truth, of personal description
saving the fate of Stonewall Jackson-compares
with it for painful interest and national calamity,
these last eighteen months and more" The shock
will be great upon the soldiers who loved him. and
upon the country, which respected him. He was
grand old man. As q commander, he was enter.
prising, vigiant and brave; as churchmsn, he was
pious, liberal and faithful; as a man, he was the
soul Of honor, affection, and upright manlness.
The circumstances of his death have just been
related to me by one of the party who was nearest
him at the moment His story is as follows:
Generals Johnston, Polk and Hardee accompe-
MED by Gen. jackson (of the cavalry,) and small
escort Of staff officers had ridden out in front of
be suitable for the Washington artillery. The
horses were made fast at the foot of the hill, and
the party assembled to the crown. Here there were
the initials to an abattis with several embrasures
rendering the place very much exposed The enc
my's guns were less than eight hundred yards in
front There had been little desultory firing du-
ring the early hours Of the day, but this had ceas
ed for some time before the group of officers began
its reconnaissance. This was prolonged to a much
ovfo md oil into rol
and animated conversation, all the gentlemen being
gathered into knot and using their hands and
glasses with q marked freedom, bespeaking rank
and interest The enemy could not fail to see them
plainly, and whilst they were being observed; de-
ibe-ately returned the observation, with full time
for calculation and adjustment The party seemed
to forget its exposed situation, although some of
the cannoniers who had been at work upon the lit
tie tier of breastment pointed out to them the &C.
curacy of the enemy's shots. Presently single
spherical case shell was discharged from the Van.
kee battery, and exploded directly above the heads
of Generals Polk, Johnston, Hardee and jackson.
All of them fell to the ground to avoid the concus-
sion of fragments 1t was then proposed to divide,
and the different gentlemen separated to such
courses as were at hand. Gen. Polk selected very
secure shelter, but becoming impatient and anxious
to scan the range of fire more accurately, he STEP
ped out upon the brow, and was ntently gazing out
across the country, his arms folded and his left side
presented, when threeinch round shot from steel
rifle cannon, struck the Chow, crushing both arms
and passing through the heart portion of the chest
and stomach, and out and ON its murderous course.
The old fell lifeess and mAngled to the ground
Gen. Johnston was bending over him in an instant
with the rest Of the party They lifted hun in their
arms to an ambulance, and he was carried to his
quarters, where bis bewildered military family re.
ceived it with the mourning of men meeting the
corpse of father.
Such is in brief thestory of this melancholy event
which has cast gloom over all hearts, and for the
moment depresses every mind. GRAPE