Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-07-09
How Bishop Polk Was Killed.


statement in Gen. Sherman's Memoirs,
says:
"On June 14th General Howard and
staff left their headquarters for the front,
where Stanley's division Of Howard's
(Fourth) corps had broken camp and
were awaiting the order to attack Pine
Mountain. 1t was just after sunrise. A
mile or two in rear of the advance How
ard met General Sherman, but the con-
versation 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 he drew rein and ex-
changed greetings, Stanley exclaimed;
Howard, do you see that group up
there on the crest of the mountain? i
wonder who they are.
We all brought our field glasses to
bear upon the point indicated and could
plainly see three persons standing in
front of line of breastworks and a
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 Stan
ley suggested that few shots be fired
to drive them under cover. Howard,
who had suggested that perhaps Bishop
Polk was in the party, made DO objec-
tions, when Stanley turned to Captain
Simonson, his chief of artillery, with the
remark:
Simonson, can't you unlimber, put a
shot into the group and give the bishop
morning salutation p
"I'll try w.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
unlimbered within twenty feet of us.
The Lieutenant sighted 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. Simonson, when the
gun had been reloaded, dismounted and
said, "Here, Lieutenant, let me try it. y
He took the range and the messenger Of
death sped on its mission. Our glasses
were bent upon the group and weobserv
ed commotion as the shot took effect il
the group that scattered to the rear
While Simonson was upon his knee:
sighting the gun for another discharge
Captain Leonard, chief of Howard
signal corps, sitting on his horse beside
me, read the Confederate signal code
that our officers had interpreted at Look
out Mountain and caught the words:
General Polk is killed Y With ;
look of amazement Leonard turned tt
Howard and Stanley and exclaimed
Bishop Polk is killed p
"What? ?" exclaimed Howard "hav'
you interpreted the signal correctly? ?"
Yes, General; Simonson's last sho
killed him. They are signalling it along
the line
The young men OF the staff, who wer
cracking jokes, instantly ceased, and 70
moment none spoke Then Howar
said
Well, Christian has fallen. Sue
is war;"
Just then Simonson caught the words
i" Bishop Polk is killed Y
He was sighting the gun, and, liftin
his eyes, that glared fearfully, exclain
ed:
What is that, Leonardo
Bishop Polk is killed Your las
shot did it. They are signalling it owe
the mountain" / replied.
Simonson's head dropped upon til
| vent" where it rested moment. The
: raising his eyes, he exclaimed
, "Thank God Yesterday they kille
my dear brother | have killed lier
tenant general and am avenged y
} Without discharing the piece Simon
son arose, remounted and joined tn
staff. Silently he repaired to his regu
lar duties, and, the line being formed
, we advanced slowly against the mour
tain, every one of us feeling that W
would have rejoiced had some other tina
, Lousiana's fighting bishop gone dow
r before Simonson's first and only sho
: The enemy was SO demoralized that h
) evacuated the mountain, and half a
f hour afterward we stood upon the spc
t where Polk fell and saw the groun
stained with his blood. A day or tw
: after, poor Simonson, the only one of L
who rejoiced at the bishops death, fel
shot on the skirmish line in Ackwort
woods.