The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-15
POLk'S RECORD AS a SOLDIER.
4 General Denial to the Accusation of Cow
ardice-He Claims to have Spent Two
Hours in the Fight at Win
chester.

Hours in the Fight at Win
chester.
RALEIGH, n. c., October 6.-Col. l..
L. Polk publishes a lengthy statement,
in which he says:
"It has been charged in the newspa-
pers that I skulked the battle Of Win
chester of September 19, 1864; that I
was hidden behind stone fence on the
morning of that day, when my regi-
ment had gone on and was engaged in
battle; that Brig Gen. Bryan Crimes
saw me there and had a conversation
with me; that I claimed to have chill;
that Gen. Grimes called special atten-
ton to the matter and said with an
oath that he intended to Court-martial
me for it, and would summon Devereux
as a witness; that for some reason I was
not Court-martialed, but was allowed to
resign.
WHAT THE OFFICIAL RECORD SHOWS.
II have in my possession the official
recoro of a Court-martial which poves,
on the sworn testimony ofGen. Grimes
himself and fourteen other witnesses,
that The above charge contains no
truth. The official record shows that
the charges were: 'Misbehavior in the
presence of the enemy and absence
without leave Gen. Grimes makes no
allusion, either in the charges or speci-
fcations, or in his sworn testimony,
to any lack of duty on my part during
the morning. Upon my petition he
was Instructed to try the case before
the Court-martial of Rhodes's division,
and thus was allowed to select officers
who should try the case. Brig Gen.
W. r. Cox was appointed president.
ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE.
1.-The record shows that up to Sep
tember is, I was acting adjutant of the
43d North Carolina regiment, being
then lieutenant in Company I. On
that day I received a certificate from
the sheriff of Arson County showing
that had been elected a member of
the Legislature. That day I turned
over my horse, books, etc., to the pro-
per authorities, preparatory to leaving
for Raleigh on the 18th. The COM
manding officer Of the regiment re-
leased me from duty, and on the morn
ing Of the 10th I had prepared to start
home having previously filled the pro-
pc: application for release from duty.
Finding that battle was imminent I
went to the commandant of the regi-
ment and asked his opinion as to
I ought to 60 into battle. He
said I was under no obligation what
ever to go, but suggested that speak
to Gen. Grimes about it. After the
line of battle was formed I approached
Gen. Grimes, and asked his advice as a
friend. He advised 1ne to go in, saying
there might be talk if did not.
REMAINED IN THE FIGHT.
81 tole MIN I would go. I then took
charge of Company II, it having no
officer. We advanced and we halted
lnder heavy fire of skirmishers. The
order, forward, was repeated. For some
'eason the regiment did not advance
Until went in front and called to the
'olor sergeant to follow me. I led the
charge through open ground for two or
;hree hours under heavy and destruc-
i've fire. I was the only officer seen in
ront during the charge and remained
n front until the line was ordered to
lalt. When ordered to fall back by
len. Grimes J. assisted him in rallying
he regiment on line indicated by
lin, until the commandant nf the
egiment, who was my former captain,
vas brought to ME near Gen. Grimes,
md, being as he thought, fatally
wounded, implored me to take him to
he rear, insisting that I had no busi-
less there and appealing to me as a
,rother Mason.
AN ERRAND OF MERCY.
II took him from the field TO the
hospital. Soon after reaching the hos
'ital the report came that our line had
,een broken and the wounded should
ret out if possible. seized my pistol
md sword, and, going out, met some
lying cavalrymen. I drew my pistol
,n an officer ard halted and held him
Until our troops came up. The Court
martial, after hearing all the evidence,
'rdered the following verdict to be sent
ne:
I'm accordance with the Act of Con-
,ress, published in General Order No.
3, Adjutant and Inspector Generals
,ffice, present series, I have the honor
O inform you that you have been hon
,rable acquitted Of the charges against
-ou. r. c. BARGER,
Major and Acting Judge Advocate"
SERENADED BY THE TROOPS.
THAT night I was aroused, pulled
= ally bunk and placed on a stump
). made speech to my friends ofthe
,gade, who had come to honor me
3 ,Sh a serenade. It was OIL the eve of
) : departure for Raleigh, I left the
iext morning."