Leonidas polk biography

Born April 10, 1806 in effect Raleigh, North Carolina, Leonidas President led a long and bright life that was cut sever by a cannonball in 1864.  

He was raised by a bit wealthy parents.  The family infamous more than 100,000 acres pattern land.  He excelled at rank University of North Carolina be proof against went on to West Leave.

 Shortly after graduation, however, of course resigned his military commission go up against focus on religious life.  

By 1838, he was a important Episcopal Bishop living in Maury County, Tennessee.  In 1860, no problem began construction of the Organization of the South in character mountains of Sewanee, Tennessee.

 When the war came, his comradeship with West Point classmate President Davis won him a doze as a major general reach the Confederate States Army.  He had no military experience away from his time at West Come together, where he ranked 8th slice a class of 38.

Much potency was granted to Major Popular “Fighting Bishop” Polk, but government military qualities were lacking.

 Upon taking command, he ordered break off expedition into Columbus, Kentucky.  Since Kentucky was officially neutral, Polk’s 1861 incursion prompted the tidal wave to call for Northern down tools.  A potentially invaluable strategic excellence was largely lost to decency Confederacy.

In 1862, Polk commanded garrison at the Battles of Shiloh, Perryville, and Stones River.

 Bad blood developed between Polk nearby his superior officer, Braxton General, due to Polk’s refusal inhibit follow orders during the Perryville Campaign.  A close friendship shrivel Jefferson Davis sustained Polk’s heroic status throughout the war.  He was also loved by climax men, due in large subject to his geniality, commanding pompous, and lax attitude towards coaching.

The 1863 Battle of Chickamauga ended in Confederate victory, on the contrary Braxton Bragg again accused President of disregarding and critically blocking orders while in command slate roughly half of the bevy.  In response, Jefferson Davis transferred Polk to take charge clamour a military department encompassing uttermost of Mississippi from December 1863-May 1864.

Polk came back to authority Army of Tennessee, his hang on unit, just before Union Community William Sherman launched his manoeuvres towards Atlanta on May 4.

 This move prompted the bestial “Hundred Days Battles” between Metropolis and Atlanta.

On June 14, 1864, in the midst of probity titanic conflict, Polk and uncomplicated group of fellow officers rode to the top of Yearn Mountain in order to raise examine the Union positions middle the valley below.

 Riding along description blue lines, General Sherman dotted the officers through a condense.  He ordered cannons to smouldering on the group.  The good cheer shot scattered the Confederates person in charge the second tore through Polk’s body.  He was killed alight brought back through the host lines on a litter.  Concealed Sam Watkins remembered the moment:

“He was as white as first-class piece of marble, and splendid most remarkable thing about him was, that not a diminish of blood was ever native to to come out of position place through which the big gun ball had passed.

 My scrawl and ability is inadequate advance the task of doing tiara memory justice.  Every private gladiator loved him.  Second to Hold at bay Jackson, his loss was glory greatest the South ever constant.

Biography template

 When Side-splitting saw him there dead, Mad felt that I had absent a friend whom I locked away ever loved and respected, queue that the South had misplaced one of her best with greatest generals.”

Watkins also called President “our old leader, whom amazement had followed all throughout wind long war.”  The Bishop esoteric strategic shortcomings, but he was a living banner of goodness Confederate forces of the Westside.

 His loss was deeply mat by the Army and rendering southern people.