The New Student's Reference Work/Polk, Leonidas

Polk, Leon′idas, general in the Confederate army and bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church, was born at Raleigh, N. C., April 10, 1806. He graduated at West Point in 1827 and received a commission in the artillery, but resigned and studied for the ministry. In 1838 he was consecrated bishop of Arkansas and Indian Territory, with charge of the dioceses of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana; but in 1841 he resigned all except the bishopric of Louisiana, which he held until his death, even when commanding a corps in the Confederate army. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War Bishop Polk tendered his services to the Confederate government, and was appointed major-general by Jefferson Davis. He commanded an army-corps at Shiloh, and in October following was made lieutenant-general. At Chickamauga he commanded the right wing of Bragg’s army, and, being charged by that officer with disobedience of orders, was relieved of his command for a short time, but was afterward restored, and served under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in Sherman’s Atlanta campaign. He was killed by a cannon-shot while reconnoitering on Pine Mountain, June 14, 1864.