, 1875-06-19
THE BATTLE OF PINE MOUNTAIN.


tPelk was killed, appearing IN a
review of Sherman's "Memoirs," ," in
which the General is credited with
having ordered the fatal shot, is
thus corrected by an eyewitness,
also one of Gen. Howard's staff:
On June 14th, Gen. Howard
and staff left their headquarters
for the front, where Stanley's di-
vision of Howard's fourth Corps
had broken camp and were await
| ling the order to attack Pine Noun
tain 1t was just after sunrise.
A mile or two in rear Of the ad-
vance Howard met Sherman, but
the conversation between them 1
did not hear. Howard and staff
joined Stanley and staff on the
road, in full view of Pine Noun
tain, and as we drew rein and
exchanged greetings, Stanley ex-
claimed: 5a g4i ag1Ielt ts
Howard, do you see that group
lup there on the crest of the noun
ttains I~ondet who they Sreaoo
We all brought our 6eld-glssSes
to bear upon the point indicated,
and could plainly see three per
sons standing in front ofa line of
breastworks, and a larger group in
the background. Stanley sug.
gested that a few shots be fred to
drive them under cover. Howard,
who had suggested that perhaps
Bishop Polk was in the party,
made no objections, when Stanley
turned to Capt Simonson, his
chief of staff, with the remark:
Simonson, can't you unlimber,
put a shot into that group, and
lgiye the bishop morning saluta-
Ition?
III Try, was Simonson's laconic
reply, and away he galIoped to the
rear. A few minutes later a seo-
ton of the Fifth Indiana battery
was unlimbered within twenty
feet Of as, The Lieutenant sighted
the gun and the shot exploded
over and to the,right Of the group,
Simonson, when the gun, had Eeen
reloaded, dismouhted, and said,
Here, Lieutenant, let me try It.
He took therange and the messenl
ger Of death sped on its mission.
Our glasses were bent upon the
group, andve observed a commo-
tomas the shot took effect in the
group that scattered to the rear.
While simonson was upon his
knees sighting the gun for another
discharge, Captain Leonard, chief
Of Howard's signal corps, sitting
on his horse beside me, read the
Confederate signal code that our
officers had interpreted at Lookout
Mountain and caught the words:
| General Polk is killed. With q
look of smazement, Leonard turn.
led to Howard and Stanley and
exclaimed: 4ioa le2 ~ s
! Bishop Polk is killed!
! What! exclaimed Howard, have
you interpreted the signal cor
rectly? 73 o.
Yes, General; Simonsonls shot
Killed him. They are signaling ii
along the line.
| The young men OF the staff who
were cracking jokes instantly cess.
ed, and for . moment none spoke
Then Howard said:
Well aJChristian has fallen.
Suehis war. y Il nsllesrasr u
Just then Simonson caught the
words, Bishop Polk is killed.!
He was sighting the gun, and,
lifting his eyes that glarsd fear
fully, exclaimed: -.r
What is that, Leonard?
Bishop Polk is killed! Your shot
did it.
i Simonson's head dropped upon
the vent, where it rested a mo-
ment. Then raising his eyes, he
exclaimed:
Thank Godl Yesterday they
killed my dear brother; l have
killed a Lieutenant General and
am avenged!
The enemy was so demoralizsd
that he evacuated the mountain,
and half an hour afterwards we
stood upon the spot where Polk
fell and saw the ground stained
with his blood.