Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-08-18
tFrOm the New Orleans Herald ]
How Bishop Polk Fell

:. ~! SVtasopOnuohII nAOuOcsln MS letter pub
llshed on tie 3rd inst, fails into an error IN his
statement of the circumstances attendant nm
on the death OF General LeORidas Polk. lie
the General as having been shot Inv
a young Federal lieutenant, named SimOnson.
and pictures General Polk rs wearing his
Bishops gown, and being the centre Of group
OF Confederate officers when the fatal meaaa1,
ger struck him. lie makes General Howard
remark that-"the figure In the centre must
and slippers" Wv"
The story is an entire fabrication. and was
doubtless Imposed upon our correspondent
The fact is, that when the noble and gaIIant
General met his tragic death, he was standinG
entirely alone, aud wore his ordinary undress
uniform. There was no officer In the army
more punetiliOus about his dress. and No man
ever saw him outside Of his own headOuarters
in gown and slippers.
Inc Gay before the magic event was Sunday
one OF those lovely June mornings when a
holy qniet preYades all nature, and nothing
disturbs the peaceful silence save the ex0uis-
lite chants OF the feathered chOristers. CIsne
raj Polk occupied as Headquarters n small
rude cabin on tue kennesaw line. and after
the mornings repast he stepped out under tile
snade OF q spreading oak, and accOsting one of
his aids, Maj. +. II. McN--, Remarked !:
what beautiful quiet morning. know of
mo more appropriate way to spend IL than to
nave Q morning service. Please notify the
Otnef members OF the Staff.N -
the officers were soon gathered together.
ana III tnat grand cathedral, whose dome was
the Vaulted shy, the Bishop read the beautiful
morning service of the church. Never before
had his matehleSS form seemed so majestic,
ana the SOlemnity of the scene was sucli NJ ia
indeliblY impress itself upon those present.
Next morning General Joseph Johnston
rOue Dy ana asked General Polk and staff 20
accompany him to General uar1ee's. on the
left of the line, as he wished to reconnoii re
me enemy. They all proceeded to General
1tarueeS headquarters, and from thence with
Ilardee to Pine Mountain, which was two
miles IN advance OF the main line. Waile the
party, some twenty-five in numDer. were as.
cendlng the mountain on horse back, thev
were met by an officer who advised them Ia
dlsmOunt, as the enemy would be certain n
Ilre at 80 large q number of mounted men,
IhereupOn they diSmOu0ted and proceeded tr
the top OF Inc mountain, where small temnO
rary earthwork had been thrown up.
Iney remained there some half hour. recon-
mourning me enemyS mOVements-they were
only SOME 1900 yards distant-When snHdenIv
she'll was fired at the grOnp, which DasseS
of to the right, crashing thrOng the branche.
of the trees. This OccaSiOned bnt IiItIs cor'
ment, and shortly thereafter General polk
leaving the group, walked slowly aWay. a,
Major MeN--, who followed him nj hrs
supposed to get out OF range. He was smr
prised, however, to see his chief Fe M rTo,.
and OvergrOwn path which led TO a stilI hi0h
er point.
They walked slowly along this anQled an(
clfcultous pathway about one hundred yards
When tho General, being in advance. stepped
out upon clear place that commanded fint
view OK the enemy, and, folding his arms, wa!
,SI,OAin8 S,o.. lntentIy out upen the plain befOFi
1lHl Wnen the Major turned to see IL Genera
Johnston was following. Just at the instan
tnat ne turned, another shot was fired, and h,
plainly heard heavy dull thud. as IL the bal
nad struck near. Turning Quickly, he saw
the General just falling backward, and rush
ing nP he found, 70 his lnutterable honor
pierced by rifle shell.
lew short gasps and the souI Of Polk wa
VITA ITS God. The she'll had slruckhis lelt arm
JUS! above the elbow, shattering it, and passin
entirely through the body, had broken his riRh
arm also.
Walking back TO G n,ral Johnston, Msio
McN. quickly Informed him Of the dreadful sc
eldent. The entire party at once Fepaired b
the spot wAere the dead hero lay, und his stat
remained there until arrangements had bee
made TO bear the body 10 the rear.
This q correct history 0flhe sad circumstance
attendant upon one Of the saddeat bereavement
that the people Of the South were called upO
TO endure.
Bishop Polk was belovedbylsvery human be
ing who knew him, and no brsVer or purer gen
Ileman ever drew sword in defense of his nativ
land. He was entirely destitute Of fear, and a
ways exposed himself In the most reckless man
ner, and when remonttIa.ed with by his officer
would laughinSly remark:
On, they can't hit me and old roam there
not the least danger"
He seenhed TO besF charmed life, and thoa
about him were finally almost convinced that q
bullet could strike him, 90 frequently had the
seen him ride through the thickest Of the dQl