The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-19
SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS.
sIMoNsoN's SHOT THAT KILLED BISHOP POLK
THE TRAGEDY GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED BY AN

THE TRAGEDY GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED By AN
EYEWITNESS.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In your review OF "Sherman's Memoirs" what
purports TO be q statement OF he manner In which
General Polk was killed is given, from which 1t
appears that Sherman called General Howardis
attention group OF Officers on Pine Mountain,
and "ordered him TO compel it to keep under
cover" WIN you permit one who was attached to
General Howard's headquarters, and who was by
his side daily on the Atlanta campalgn-one who,
with Howard and other officers. sat our horses
beside the Filth Indiana battery that fired the
fatal shot-to give the true story from my notes
made that morning and published In Western
daily a few weeks alterward There certainly
is q grievous error either in your review or in
Sherman's description OF the tragedy. General
Sherman was not there and could not have seen
the shot fred. General Sherman may have,
however as he rode to the rear, where he met
Howard called HE attention to what he (Howard)
would see when our party reached General David
Stanley's 'front.' The facts-in which am sure
will be sustained in the main by Generals Howard
and Stanley and the star officers presen-are
these:-
On June IA General Howard and stan left their
headquarters for the front, where Stanley's d.
vision Of Towards tFourtn) 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 Howard met Sherman.
but the versation between them did not
hear, as the two generals conversed aside. How
ard and staff joined Stanley and his stan on the
road, IN full. view OF Pine Mountain, and as we
drew rein and exchanged greetings Stanley ex-
claimed
"Howard. 90 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
he nd
persons standing In front OF line OF breastworks
and a larger group In the background We could
not tell whether they were otncers or prlvates,
but as It was evident that they were watching our
movements Stanley suggested that few shots
be fired 10 drive them under cover. Howard, who
had suggested that perhaps Blsnop Polk was in
the party, made no objections, when Stanley
turned to Captain Slmonson, his CHER of artillery,
"siuonson, can't you unlmber put a shot into
the group and give the Bishop morning saluta-
tlonYn
I'm tryr' was Smonson's laconic reply. And
away he galloped 10 the rear. few minutes
(simonson'sl was numbered within twenty feet
ofus. The Lieutenant sighted the gun and the
snot exploded over and to the right OF the group
Here ms memory fails me, but my impression is a
second snot was sigh ed and nred by the
Lieutenant with no better erect Simonson. when
the gun had been reloaded dismounted and said,
"nere Lieutenant, let me Try IT, He took the
range and tue messenger OF death sped on It's
mission. Our glasses were bent upon The group
aud We observed a connection as the snot took
effect In tue group that scattered TO the rear
While slmonsCn was upon MS knees sighting the
gun for another discharge, Captain Leonard, chlef
o. Towards signal corps 81 ting on MS morse DE-
our Oficers had interpreted az Lookout Mountain
aGenerai polk is kIlledr, With a look OF amaze
ment Leonard turned to Howard and Staniey
and excialmed -
"BlsnOp Polk Is kllledW
"wnatf" exclaimed Howard; shave you inter-
prefed the signal correctly ~
last
Tney are signaling IL along the line.n
the Young men OF the stan VINO were cracking
jokes ms antly ceased, ana Tor moment none
spoke. Then Howard SAID
'aWell a CnrIstian mas lallen. Sucn Is war;
just then Simonson caught the words "Bisnop
ne was sighting tue gun, and, lifting his eyes,
that alared learlally, exclaimed =
wp,snop pois Is kllledl Your last shot did it.
They are signalling lt over the mountain re-
s,monson's head dropped upon the event.
wnsre Il rested moment Then, raising MS
eyes he exclaimed
brother; nave killed lieutenant general and
am avengedW
remounted aud joined the stan. SILENTLY he re-
paired 10 MS regular duties, and, the line being
sormea. We advanced slowly against the noun
tain. every one OF Us feeling that we would nave
reloiced nad some other than Loulsiana's fight
ing BsnOp gone Gown before simonson's
20 dsmoraIizeo that he evacuated the mountain,
ana nail an n0nr atterward We stood upon the
snor : mere Polk TN aud saw the ground stained
with MS blood. A cay or after poo Simon.
son toe ouly Of Va wDo reJoced ct the Bishops
Death, ieiL snoi On the sEIrmish nne IN Ackwortn
Tnsn vas the conlederacy avenged. II Is posi-
Bile mat General sherman had peen 10 the front
oraerrd Howard 70 oisperse II; but certain It Is
fnat ne nowhere near howard when simon
son = shot for the heart OF Leonid& Polk, the
ngntlnQ Bishop. I'D.
NKw ioRK, May Is, 1875