Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-09-13
HOW BISHOP POLK FELL.

into an error III his stateiuenI vi lHe
circumstances attendant upon the death
of General Leonidas Polk. He repre-
sents the General as having been shot
by young Federal Lieutenant, named
Simonson, and pictures General Polk as
wearing his Bishops gown, and being
the centre of a group of Confederate
officers, when the fatal messenger struck
him. He makes General Howard re-
mark that-"the figure in the centre
must be Bishop Polk-he sometimes
goes out in gown and clippers"
The story is an entire fabrication, ,and
was doubtless imposed upon our cores
pondent. The fact is, that when the
noble and gallant General met his trag
ic death, he was standing entirely alone
and wore his ordinary undress uniform.
There was no officer in the army more
punctilious about his dress, and no man
ever saw him outside of his own head
quarters in gown and slippers.
The day before the tragic event was
Sunday, one of those lovely Juue morn
ings when holy quiet pervades all ma.
ture, and nothing disturbs the peaceful
silence save the exquisite chants of the
teathered choristers General Polk oc-
cupied as headquarters small rude
cabin on the Kennesaw line, and after
the morning repast he stepped out un-
dor the shade of spreading tree, and
accosting one of his aids, Maj F. II.
McN-,remarked: "What beautiful
quiet morning. know of no more ap
propriate way to spend it than TO have
a morning service. Please notify the
other members of the staff.
The officers were soon gathered to-
cether, and in that grand cathedral,
whose dome was the vaulted sky, the
Bishop read the beautiful morning SER
vice of the church. Never before had
his matchless form seemed so majestic,
and the solemnity of the scene was such
as to indelibly impress itself upon those
present
Next morning General Joseph John
ston rode by and asked General Polk
and staff to accompany him to General
Hardees, on the left of the line, as he
wished to reconnoitre the enemy. They
all proceeded to the General Hardee's
headquarters, and from thence with
Hardee to Pine Mountain, which was
two miles in advance OF the main hne.
While the party, some twenty-five III
number, were ascending the mountain
on horseback, they were met by an Off
Ger who advised them TO dismount, as
the enemy would by certain to fire at
SO large number of mounted men.
Thereupon they dismounted and pro-
ceeded to the top of the mountain, where
small temporary earthwork had been
thrown up.
They remained there some half hour,
reconnoitring the enemy's movements
they were only some 1900 yards distant
when suddenly shell was fred at the
group, which passed off to the night,
crashing through the branches OF the
trees. This occasioned but little com
ment, and shortly thereafter General
Polk, leaving the group, walked slowly
away, as Major Mon, who followed
him, at first supposed to get out OF
range. he was surprised, however, TO
see his chief take narrow and over
grown path which led to still higher
point.
They walked slowly along this angled
and circuitous pathway about one hun
dred yards, when the General, being IN
advance, stepped out upon clear place
that commanded a fine view OF the ene-
my, and folding his arms, was looking
intently out upon the plain before him,
when the Major turned to see if General
Johnston was following. Just at the
instant he turned, another shot was fir
ed, and he plainly heard heavy dull
thud, as if the ball had struck near.
Turning quickly, he saw the General
just falling backward, aud rushing up
he found, to his unutterable horror, that
the form of his beloved chieftain had
been pierced by rifle shell.
A few short gasps and the soul OF
Polk was with its God. The shell had
struck his left arm just above the elbow,
shattering it, and passing entirely thro
the body, had broken his right arm also.
Walking back to General Johnston,
Major Men. quickly informed him OF
the dreadful accident The entire party
at once repaired to the spot where the
dead hero lay, and his staff remained
there until arrangements had been made
to bear the body to the rear.
This is a correct history of the sad
circumstances attendant upon one OF
the saddest bereavements that the peo-
pie of the South were called upon to
endure. Bishop Polk was beloved by
every human being who knew him, and
no braver or purer gentlemen ever
drew sword in defenseof his native land.
He was entirely destitute Of fear, and
alway. exposing himself in the most
reckless manner, and when demonstrated
with by his officers, would laughingly
remark:
"Oh, they can't hit me and old roam;
there's not the least danger"
He seemed to bear charmed life,
and those abovt him were finally al
most convinced that no bullet could
strike him, so frequently had they seen
him ride through the thickest of the
fight on his old roam charger and escape
usscathsd.-Nep Orleans Heraid.
Whist Virginia may be come, is forcibly
stated by the Philadelphia Ledger in q
brief editorial paragraph. Says Ledg-
er: "Black walnut stumps, brougt
H. ;,%o,,or of Vir0;nia are now