A Humorous Antecdote About Leonidas Polk

Robtweb1

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This is said to have occurred during the Battle of Murfreesburough:

"Cheatham launched another attack with the brigades of Vaughan, Coltart, and Manigault with Maney in support. Vaughan encountered Bushrod Johnson's Brigade in a line of battle perpendicular to his own. He changed front and attacked the Federals that were in the woods on his right. The enemy fled across the Wilkinson Pike and on to the Nashville Pike. Vaughan again changed front and advanced across the Wilkinson Pike with a view of cutting the enemy off. There he came upon Wood's Brigade and engaged a Federal force trying to flank Wood on his right. He drove them into the only field left before the Nashville Pike.

Leonidas Polk was standing with Cheatham during one of the attacks and Cheatham was cheering his men on, yelling "Give em hell! Give em hell!" The former Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana joined in with "Give em what General Cheatham says, boys! Give em what General Cheatham says!"
 
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