The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-12-29
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
By ]. L. POWER.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.


Where and How Gen. Polk Was Killed
AMoRY, Miss, Oct. 8. 1900.
Col. Power-In late paper see it stated
by you that in volume in the library Of
Gen. :. d. Lee, containing the names of
Confederate generals killed during the
war, that Lieutenant General Leonidas
Polk was killed at Pine Mountain. Surely
this is a mistake. After the battle Of
Chickamauga the Confederate forces were
advanced to within a short distance Of
Chattanooga, entrenching ourselves in the
valley, Immediately at the foot of Mis-
sionary Ridge. On a beautiful spot, or the
top OF Missionary Ridge, directly in the
rear, but some distance from the position
occupied by Gracie's Alabama brigade, and
other portions Of Bushrod Johnson's divi-
sion, Gen. Polk established his corps head
quarters. 1t was there, while at his own
tent that shell thrown from a Federal
battery, some ten miles or more away, on
the left Of the Federal position, exploded,
killing Gen. Polk instantly. There was no
general engagement going on at the time,
and the shot that killed the general was
directed at his headquarters. L. HALL,
Formerly fagbearer 43d Alabama regi-
ment.
Having referred the foregoing to Mr..
Allen Hooker, who has been for some
time engaged in making an index to
all Mississippians mentioned in the
Rebellion Records" he makes the fol-
lowing interesting statement:
Confederate and Union reports agree that
Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk was
killed on Pine Mountain, Georgia, June IA,
1854 So say Sherman, Hardee and John
ston. See volume 3S, part T.
Among the series of broken ridges and
hills which form the water shed between the
Elowah and Chattahoochee, stand three
Lost Mountain, in the State of Georgia
Pine Hill (or Pine Mountain), is about four
miles southeast Of Kennesaw, and was the
apex Of the triangle, the salient of the
Confederate position. (See page 4Sl, part
| 4, volume 3S.)
| Gen Sherman had issued an order fol
the batteries in position to maintain q
pretty brisk fire during the early part o.
the day, on groups of men and horses
especially at the north base of Kennesaw
Pine Hill, the object being to make lodg
from which the water flows toward tn,
Chattahootchie.
| Major-General ID. S. Stanley (U.S.A.
at page 223, volume Ss, part l, writes:
On the l4th the position of the enem,
was sharply canonaded by all of OUR bat
teries, and, as we subsequently learned, tn,
second shot fred from rificd section of th
9TH Indiana battery, exploded in groul
of rebel generals killing Lieutenant-Genera
Polk.
The first intimation the Federals hat
of Bishop Folks death they got from
the Confederates:
GEN Thomas HEADQUARTERS,
| BIG SHANTY, June 18th. J
Our signal officers read the enemy's flag
and in this way we learned that the rebe
general. Polk, was killed today and his re
mains sent 10 Marietta. The messages wer
from Hood The fact is carefully concealed
lest becoming known the rebel signal OF
ficers would change their code.
J. G. VANDEvER, 70. S. A.
Captain and Assistant QuartermasteI
Volume 3s, part 4, page 479.)
| HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENSEssEss,
In THE FIELD, June IA, 1864. !
General Field Orders, No. 2:
Comrades-You are called upon to mour
your first captain, your oldest companio
in arms Lietenant-GeneralP Polk fell toda
at the outpost of the army-the army b
raised and commanded, in all of who's
trials he shared, to all of whose victorit
he contributed. In this distinguishe
leader we have lost the most courteous G
gentlemen, the most gallant of soldier
The Christian, patient soldier, has neithe
lived nor died in vain. His example is b
fore you. His mantle rests with you.
j. Z. JOHNSTON, General.
page 476, volume 3s, part A.
Southern Officers In the Union Army.
The Atlanta Constitution has publiSl