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Leonidis Polk

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Leonidis Polk

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Auction Date:2012 Mar 14 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana (1806-1864). His West Point classmate, Jefferson Davis, urged him to accept an appointment as a Confederate general during the Civil War, despite having had no combat experience. His rank earned him the nickname ‘The Fighting Bishop.’ Polk, a second cousin of James K. Polk, defeated Grant at Belmont and commanded large forces at Shiloh and Chickamauga. Gen. Braxton Bragg ordered xhim to be court-martialed for not following orders at Chickamauga, but Davis reinstated him. Polk was killed in action near Pine Mountain, Georgia, in June 1864, and although Davis lavished the highest praise on him as a military leader, most of his peers felt his real talents lay in his ministry. War-dated ALS signed “Leonidis Polk, Majr Genl, Commanding, 2d Department, C.S.A.,” three pages on two sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, July 29, 1861. Letter to Col. Robert W[illia]m Topp, Dr. Fowlks, Judge Caruthers, and Dan[ie]l Leatherman. In full: “I am satisfied that many of our fellow countrymen in East Tennessee, have, by the course of events, been forced with occupying a position in regard to the question pending between the North & the South which is hardly in keeping with their natural relations, & from which it is our duty in a Spirit of magnanimity to do what we can to relieve them. Without entering into the questions at issue, I feel confident that if they are assured by their Southern fellow countrymen of their disposition to treat them with kindness & to respect their manly feelings, while they are making provision for the protection of our own Tennessee Soil against invasion from the North, they will have no reason to feel aggrieved by the presence of troops in their midst. They must see that the policy of the U.S. Government on whether Mr Lincoln's government is to overrun & subjugate us, & they also know that they are threatening to do this through the passes of the Tennessee mountains. What are we to do then? But one thing is left us, & that is to place troops at all of those points at which we are most exposed. This assuredly in the face of the facts alluded to should form no just ground of complaint on the part of any candid man of sense. It is upon every amount desireable that no irritating language or any offensive bearing should be manifested by the troops towards citizens in East Tennessee or elsewhere, & the commanders will doubtless see that this is not done. Your well known Character & position in relation to the public questions which have agitated us, make it in my opinion a very proper office for you to perform to go to our fellow citizens of East Tennessee & with fraternal words & unfeigned kindness to endeavour to induce them to waive their opposition to the decision of the majority of the voters of the State & to become hereafter as heretofore with us a untied band of brothers. The State of Tennessee in the history of the year has a fame which among our States has been among the most enviable. For Statesmanship & military distinction she has been excelled by none. In the name of all that is hallowed & precious let us see to it that we transmit to our children an escutcheon unstained by the demoralizing...influences of Social distractions & conflict. Concession in a world like this is inevitable. To bow before the direction of majorities the highest of the duties of American citizenship. May we not hope these gentlemen through you will be a mission of peace, & trust we shall soon bear of but one party in the Eastern End of our beloved Tennessee as there is but one in the East & the Central, district & like the true patriots of our good old mother the Old North State we shall be one & indivisible. With my best wishes for your Success.”

Intersecting folds, a couple passing through the signature, some creasing and wrinkling around folds, scattered toning and soiling, mounting remnants to reverse of second page, and light pencil notations to top of first page, otherwise very good condition.

In Tennessee, the Whig Party split nationally on the slavery issue, and the state became nominally Democratic. Proslavery sentiment was strong in middle and west Tennessee, but less strong in east Tennessee; loyalty to the Union, however, was strong in all sections of the state. As late as February 9, 1861, voters defeated a proposal to hold a convention for the consideration of seceding from the Union. This pro-Union sentiment changed almost overnight when Lincoln called on Tennessee to provide troops to help put down the Southern rebellion. On May 7, 1861, the state entered into a "military league" with the Confederacy, and on June 8 the people of middle and west Tennessee voted overwhelmingly to sever their ties with the union; by an equally overwhelming majority east Tennessee voted to remain in the Union. Thus, when Gov. Isham G. Harris proclaimed that Tennessee had declared its independence of the Union, Andrew Johnson of east Tennessee refused to resign his seat in the U.S. Senate and was upheld in that action by the people of his section. East Tennessee remained Unionist throughout the Civil War and has been strongly Republican in its politics ever since.
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