Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-10-07
MEDICINE LODGE, KANSAS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER Z 1894

blue and the gray. In an interview
this evening he reiterated his assertion
that the charges made against him at
Wichita were entirely false He never
held rank in confedsrate service above
lieutenant and was never In position to
mistreat union soldierA The charges
were made, he thought 20 weaken his
political influence"
As matter of fact the charges are
outrageously false and have been re-
futed time and again. More than a
year agp the Topeka Advocate. Of
August 8, 1890. published long letter
from correspondent at Raleigh, N c.,
President Polk's home, In which the
following facts are set forth, complete
ly giving the lie to the gang of con-
spirators who. for the sake OF partisan
advantage, would willingly again array
the north and south In hostile ranks.
The extracts are es followsi
Sol Folks record b O. clear as any
mans He was q very young man at
the beginning Of the war, but was even
then man of influence In his section
He was whig-a strong union man,
and made the last union speech that
was ever made in his county. He voted
for North Carolina to remain
in the union, but when she
went out he volunteered and
joined the Forty-third regiment and
was elected lieutenant Thomas s.
Kenan was colonel Of the regiment,
and, together with hundreds of the sur
vivors, can testify as to the bravery
and devotion with which young Lieut.
Polk fought. Col Kenan was for many
years attorney-generalo Of this state and
is now clerk to the supreme court, and
anyone by writing to his address at
Raleigh, N. c., can find out all about
President Polk's war record He
fought In the regular service for over
three years and never shirked duty.
He was several times mentioned in the
official reports Of his superiors for gal
lantry on the field. ALI old soldiers
who knew him speak highly of him.
I'm 1854, while in the army, Col Polk
then Lieut.. Polk-was nominated as
candidate for seat In the legislature
He was elected over several home can
didates by handsome majority. The
night before he left camp he was hon
ored by magnificent serenade by the
brigade. The day after he left, the
officers Of his regiment called a meet
ing and the following resolutions were
adopted and forwarded to Col Polk and
published in the state papers:
"CAMP ADD. N. @ REGIMENT
NEW MARKET, Va, Dec. II, 1854
"MEssRs EDITORS: According to previous
notice, the officers of the Forty third regi-
ment held a meeting on the evening of the
9TH OF December to express their sentiments
4 VTff ovdN 40 khAA A1r
number, Lieut. L l. Polk. to take his seat in
the legislature of North Carolina. Lieut. A
W. Bridgers was called to the chair, Chap
lain e. W. Thompson was appointed secre-
tary. On motion, committee. composed of
Oapt. W. I. Cobb, Chaplain r. W. Thompson
and Lieut. H. Brown, were appointed to Of.
Ter resolutions expressive Of the sense of the
meeting. The committee reported and the
following preamble and resolutions were
adopted:
whereas, Our brother oficer, Lieut. L L.
Folk. has been elected to the legislature of
North Carolina and has left US to take his
seat in that honorable body, therefore.
Resolved, lst. That while we are highly
gratif1ed at the honor thus conferred upon
him, we deeply regret that In future we are
to be deprived of his association as q
Christian gentleman. and his aid and ex-
ample as gallant officer.
Resolved, I'd, That his gentlOmaniy de.
portmen, his moral conduct, together with
MS BalIAnt bearing aB an OmOef, nave won
the esteem and confidence OF the officers and
men Of the Forty third North Carolina regi.
ment
Resolved, Cd, That we hope his conduct
while serving his country in her legislative
councils may be marked by the same
honesty of purpose patriotic devotion and
unfaltering courage that characterized It
while serving on the field Of battle,
Resolved. 4th, That a copy Of these reso-
lutions be sent to Lieut. Polk and also to the
Raleigh Confederate and North Carolina
Argus for publication.
"On motion the meeting adjourned.
"a. W. BRIDoERs Chairman.
"E W. THOMPSON Secretary.
These resolutions show how his
comrades in war regarded him"
just so, and they also prove that
when he left the army In December,
1864, President L L Polk was only q
lieutenant So Il Is that lies, like
chickens. come home to roosk
GEORGE G. WARD.