diane
Retired User
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2010
- Location
- State of Jefferson
Watkins also noted there wasn't any blood when the general was brought back to camp. That's because it was all on Pine Mountain, where Union troops found a huge bloody pool and a note: "You d-d Yankee sons of b-s have killed our old General Polk." Polk's men did love him and the Southern people considered his loss right up there with Jackson's. Both were men of religion - important at that time. Polk conducted services, baptized, married - all the things he'd done before except for the army life! That's why I say he left his true calling, tending his flock. The fact is, nobody in the ranks or the population in general knew the inner workings of the AoT. It wasn't in the local paper that Polk was weaving a nasty web around Bragg, or any of the other skulduggery that went on. (And, yes, I do hold Bragg responsible for his part in his own destruction - never saw anyone more cooperative!) He provided for his men, kept them as well supplied and safe as possible, was a big and impressive man, held religious services that many appreciated and was charismatic. Since he was adequate and even good upon several occasions, his mishaps were generally blamed on Bragg. As far as the men were concerned, if only Polk had had his way instead of his idiot commander! Sorry to say, Polk made a fine stalking horse of Bragg.

