Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-04
BISHOP POLK'S DEATH.
General Joseph T.. Johnston Describes
How He was Killed.
baltimore SUM-

An article in the Indianapolis Journal
recently purported TO narrate the true ac-
count OF the death of the Confederate
Iieutenant-GeneralP Polk. Bishop OF Lou
isiana. Concerning its statement MIR. Win
field Peters writes to the Sun. tnat having
in the year 1879 visited the field OF opera,
tions along Kennesaw mountain, Ga, ana
having located, after much ehoIt, the
spot where General Polk fell, and In
formed myself as to the clrcum-
stances of his death, and having sub
seouently conferred with General Jo-
seph f. Johnston and Bishop Beckwlth, OF
Georgia, who were present on the held a~d
near General Polk when he fell, he was
able not only TO correct the inaccuracies
OF the Journal, but to set at rest any fu,
ture dispute as to remarkable historical
occurrence of the late war. determined
To ask General Joseph Il. Johnston to
wrte his account of it, and now have the
pleasure to inclose his reply" In his let
ter TO Mr.. Peters, which is dated Washing
ton. September 25th, General Johnston
SAYS: g have seen lately what ls purport-
ed to be an account OF General Folks
death, probably that to which you refer.
for it is an invention from beginning TO
end.
Bates division, of Hardee's corps, occu-
pied the summit of Pine Mount as an out
DDSt. AS III WAS utdIlN a. III AADhh Va
our line. General Hardee thought 1t ex-
posed, and agreed TO ride to 1t with him
and decide the question on the ground.
General Polk joined US. We reached the
hill directly from the rear and dismounted
sixty or eighty yards from the summit.
On reaching il we found that the best view
was from little parapet some thirty, or
forty feet down the slope and occupied IL.
The Federal line was IN full view, ana a
feld-battery three or four hundred yards IN
our front In few minutes ii was decided
that the risk of holding the position was
much greater than any advantage 1t could
give us, aud General Hardee was desired
to withdraw his troops from it soon after
nightfall e.,, a,o.,o.
preparatory to moving, a shot from the
battery in front of us struck tree, little
above our heads. We moved around the
little summit horizontally, General POLK
and | 10 the right, General Hardee TO the
left. In few minutes another shot came
fiving over our heads. General Polk still
with me. Very soon after, when was try.
ing to ascertain if any part of our line was
visible, another shot came-the third.
| immediately looked around to as
sure myself of General Folks safety.
when a young officer near called 10
me that he had fallen by the last shot.
Looking to the crown OF the Ittle summit
/ saw him lying at full length upon 1t
dead. fastening up found that the bolt
from field-piece had passed left to right
through the middle Of his chest. In few
minutes rapid discharge of shells into
the woods around was begun.
"As General Polk had served IN that
army from its formation he was greatly
loved and admired in it, and his death was
deeply deplored.
ave had no signal stations then nor
ambulances at Marietta. This disposes OF
the fable of the deciphering of Confeder-
ate signal by Federal officer"
To General Johnston's letter MIR. Peters
adds: Bishop Folks remains were buried
outside the chancel-rail of Christ church,
Augusta, Ga. A large and ornate mural
tablet in his memory was erected in the
church near the chancel. The inscription
is in letters of gold on black marble: After
stating his servicesin the Church as bishop
of two dloceses, his rank of lieutenant
general in the army, and dates OF birth
and death it concludes with this quotation
from the Book of Job: