The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-06-03

TENNESSEE M JUNE 8, 1875.
How Gen. Polk Was Killed.
A correspondent of the New York Her
Ia writes Al foIlows.

A correspondent of the New York Her
add writes as follows: ~
In your review of "Sherman's Me
moirs : what purports to be statement
OF The manner in which Gen. Polk was
killed Is given. from which it appears that
Sherman called Gen. Howard's attention
to group of officers on Pine Mountain,
and ''ordered him to compel it to Keep
under cover" viii you permit one who
was attached toGen. Towards headouar-
ters, and who was by his side daily on the
Atlanta acampaign-0ne who, with How
ard, and other officers, sat our horses be-
side the Filth Indiana battery that fired
the fatal shot--to give the true story from
my notes made that morning and pub
lished in Western daily few weeks af-
terward? There certainly is grieyous
error either I'M your review or 10 Sher-
mans description of the tragedy. Gen.
Sherman was not there, and could not
have seen the shot fired. Gen. Sherman
may have, however, as he rode to the rear,
where he met Howard, called his attention
to what he fdoward) would see when our
party reached Gen David Stanley's front.
The iacts--in which am sure / will be
sustained in the main by Gems. Howard
and Stanley and the staff officers present
are these.
On June IA. Gen. Howard and staff left
their headquarters for the front. where
Stanley's division OF Howaid's (Fourth)
Corps had broken camp and were await
ing the order to attack Pine Mountain. 1t
was just after sunrise. A mile or two in
rear of the advance Howard met Sherman,
but the conversation between them | did
not hear, as the two Generals conversed
aside. Howard and staff joined Stanley
and his staff on the road, in full view of
Pine Mountain, and as we drew rein and
exchanged greetings, Stanley excl lined,
a. Howard, do you see that group up
there on the crest of the mountain? l
wonder who they are"
We all brought our field-glasses to bear
upon the point indicated, and could plain
ly see three persons standing in front of a
line of breast-works, and larger group
in the background. We could not tell
whether they were officers or privates,
but, as it was evident that they were
watching our movements, Stanley sug-
gested that few shots be fired to drive
them under cover. Howard, who had sug-
gested that perhaps Bishop Polk was in
the party, made no objections, when Stan
ley turned to Captain Simonson, his chief
of artillery, with the remark:
"Simonson, can't you unlimber, put a
shot into that group, and give the Bishop
a morning salutation?"
"I'll try!" was Simonson's laconic re-
ply. And away he galloped to the rear.
A few minutes later section of the Fifth
Indiana Battery (Simonson's) was unlim-
bered w.thiI 20 feet of US. The Lirufen-
ant sighttd the gun and the shot exploded
over and to the right of the group. Here
my memory fails me, but my impression
is second shot was sighted and fired by
the Lieutenant with no better effect. ST.
monson, when the gun had been reloaded,
dismounted, and said, Here, Lieutenant,
let me try IT," He took the range and the
messenger of death sped on its mission.
Our glasses were bent upon the group,
and we observed a cOmmotiOn as the shot
took effect in the group that scattered to
the rear. While S monson was upon his
knees sighting the gun for another dis
charge, Capt. 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:
"Gen. Polk is killed." With look OF
amazement, Leonard turned to Howard
and Stanley and exclaimed:
"Bishop Polk i killed !"
you interpreted the signal correctly?'
o Yes, General Simonson's last shot
killed him. They are signaling it along
the line"
The Young men of the staff who were
cracking jokes instantly ceased, and for a
moment none spoke. Then Howard
said:
"Well, Christian has fallen. Such is
war"
Just then Simonson caught the words,
:. Bishop Polk is killed."
He was sighting the gun, and lifting his
eyes, that glared fearfulIy, exclaimed;
What is that, Leonardo"
"Bishop Polk is killed! Your last shot
didir. They are signaling it over the
mountain" replied.
Simons0n's head dropped upon the
s'vent,' where il rested a moment. Then,
raising his eyes, he exclaimed
"Thank God! Yesterday they killed
nv dear brother; have killed Lieuten--
ant General and am avenged"
Without discharging the piece Simonson
arose, remounted and Joined the staff. ST.
lently he repaired to his regular duties,
and, the line being formed, we advanced
slowly against the mountain, every one OF
us feeling that we would have r. jOiced had
some other than Louisiana's fighting
Bishop gone down before Simonson's first
and only shot. The enemy was so de-
moralized that he evacuated the noun
tain. and half an hour afterwards we stood
upon the spot where Polk fill, and saw
the ground stained with his blood. A day
or two after, poor SimonsOn, the only
one of us who reiOiced at the Bishops
death, fell, shot ON the skirmish line in
Ackworth Woods.
Then was the Confederacy avenged. 1t
is possible that Gen. Sherman had been TO
the front that morning, and, seeing the
group referred to, ordered Howard TO dis
De Sc it; but certain it is that he was no
where near Howard when SimOnson's shot
felt for the heart of Leonidas Polk, the
fighting Bishop.