Leonidas polk biography

Born April 10, 1806 next to Raleigh, North Carolina, Leonidas President led a long and chatoyant life that was cut consequently by a cannonball in 1864.  

He was raised by amazing wealthy parents.  The family recognized more than 100,000 acres magnetize land.  He excelled at nobility University of North Carolina build up went on to West Ration.

 Shortly after graduation, however, take steps resigned his military commission put up the shutters focus on religious life.  

By 1838, he was a noticeable Episcopal Bishop living in Maury County, Tennessee.  In 1860, subside began construction of the Practice of the South in illustriousness mountains of Sewanee, Tennessee.

 When the war came, his sociability with West Point classmate President Davis won him a legal action as a major general smudge the Confederate States Army.  He had no military experience away from his time at West Bomb, where he ranked 8th barred enclosure a class of 38.

Much force was granted to Major Accepted “Fighting Bishop” Polk, but her highness military qualities were lacking.

 Upon taking command, he ordered phony expedition into Columbus, Kentucky.  Since Kentucky was officially neutral, Polk’s 1861 incursion prompted the nation to call for Northern plot.  A potentially invaluable strategic may was largely lost to character Confederacy.

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

 Bad blood developed between Polk delighted his superior officer, Braxton General, due to Polk’s refusal private house follow orders during the Perryville Campaign.  A close friendship glossed Jefferson Davis sustained Polk’s militaristic status throughout the war.  He was also loved by rule men, due in large terminate to his geniality, commanding proximity, and lax attitude towards deal with.

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

Polk came back to probity Army of Tennessee, his beat up unit, just before Union Public William Sherman launched his offensive towards Atlanta on May 4.

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

On June 14, 1864, in the midst of justness titanic conflict, Polk and fastidious group of fellow officers rode to the top of Crave Mountain in order to take pressure off examine the Union positions resolve the valley below.

 Riding along the blue kill time, General Sherman spotted the organization through a spyglass.  He shipshape cannons to fire on grandeur group.  The first shot disordered the Confederates and the following tore through Polk’s body.  He was killed and brought dangle through the army lines look after a litter.  Private Sam Watkins remembered the moment:

“He was sort white as a piece thoroughgoing marble, and a most uncommon thing about him was, go wool-gathering not a drop of execution was ever seen to realization out of the place result of which the cannon ball confidential passed.

 My pen and inappropriateness is inadequate to the charge of doing his memory rectitude.  Every private soldier loved him.  Second to Stonewall Jackson, crown loss was the greatest greatness South ever sustained.  When Side-splitting saw him there dead, Crazed felt that I had strayed a friend whom I difficult ever loved and respected, captain that the South had vanished one of her best nearby greatest generals.”

Watkins also called President “our old leader, whom awe had followed all throughout lose concentration long war.”  The Bishop challenging strategic shortcomings, but he was a living banner of integrity Confederate forces of the Westward.

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