The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-20
How Bishop Polk was Killed.

A writer in the Herald, correcting a
statement in Gen. Sherman's Memoirs.
says;
"On June 18th General Howard and
staff left their headquarters for the front.
where Stanley's division of Howards =
(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. How.
ard and staff joined Stanley and his staff
on the road, in full view Of Pine Noun.
tain, and as he drew rein and exchanged
greetings, Stanley exclaimed:
Howard, do you see that group up
there on the crest of the mountain? /
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 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 suggest
ed that perhaps Bishop Polk was in the
party, made no objections, when Stanley
turned to Captain Simonson, his chief OF
artillery, with the remark
"Simonson, cant you unlimber, put q
shot into the group and give the bishop 4
morning salutation ?"
"Ill try !" was Simonson's lacopic 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,
bat my impression is second shot was
sighted and fred by the Lieutenant with
no better effect. Simonsou, when the
gun had been reloaded, dismounted and
said, "Here, Lieutenant, let me try it. J."
lie took the range and the messenger of
death sped on its mission. Our glasses
were bent upon the group and we OBJ
served a commoton as the shot took ef.
feet in the group that scattered to the
rear While Simonson was upon hi,
knees sighting The gun for another dis.
charge, Captain Leonard, chief Of How.
ards signal corps, sitting on his horse be
side me, read the Confederate signal code
that our officers had interpreted at Look
out Mountain and caught the words.
General Polk is killed ~ With a
look of amazcment Leonard turned TO
Howard and Stanley and exclaimed
Bishop Polk is killed -
"What ~ exclaimed Howard; have
you interpreted the signal correctly ?"
Yes, General Simonson's last shot
killed him. They are signalling it along
the line" %
The young men OF the staff, who were
cracking jokes, instantly ceased, and for
moment none spoke. Then Howard
said :
"Well, Christian has fallen. Such
is war"
just then Simonson caught the words,
Bishop Polk is killed -
iie ""s sighti.s ,Lo su.. .-j i;f.;.z
his eyes, that glared feariully, ezclaim
ed
"What is that, Leonard ?"
Bishop Polk is killed Your las
shot did it, They are signalling it over
the mountain" replied.
Simonson's head dropped upon the
went" where it rested moment. Then
raising his eyes, he exclaimed
THANK God Yesterday they killed
my dear brother; have killed lien.
tenant general and am avenged !"
Without discharging the piece Simon.
son arose, remounted and Joined the staff
Silently he repaired to his regular duties
and the line being formed, we advanced
slow y against the mountain, every one OF
US feeling that we would have re,oiced
had some other than Louisiana's fighting
bishop gone down before Smonson's first
and only shot, The enemy was so dc.
moralized that he evacuated the noun.
tain, and half an hour afterward we stood
upon the spot where Polk fell and saw
the ground stained with his blood. A
day or two after, poor Simonson, the only
one of us who rejoiced at the bishops
death, fell, shot Oh the skirmish line in
Ackworth woods