CSA Bios: JS Preston, Posey, LE Polk, L Polk

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. John S. Preston, CSA (b. 1809, d. 1881) Noted for his skills as an orator, John Smith Preston was an unreconstructed secessionist until the end. Preston, born at the Salt Works near Abingdon, Va., April 20, 1809, was the half-uncle by marriage of Gen. Wade Hampton. Preston was educated at Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Virginia and Harvard. He studied law at Harvard and began a practice in Abingdon before moving to Columbia, S.C., and later spent some years as a sugar planter in Louisiana. Returning to South Carolina in 1848, Preston served in the state senate until 1856. He lived abroad from 1856-60 before returning to head the state’s delegation to the Charleston Democratic convention. In 1861, he was a commissioner to Virginia and made an impassioned plea for his native state to leave the Union. He served as a lieutenant colonel on the staff of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard during the siege of Fort Sumter and First Manassas. He received a promotion to colonel April 23, 1863, and then to brigadier general June 10, 1864. Preston commanded prison camps and conscript camps before being named superintendent of the bureau of conscription July 30, 1863. He held that post until it was dissolved. It was said that his skills as an orator made his stint in the unpopular position a successful one. After the war, Preston lived in England until 1868. He made a speech at the University of Virginia, which defended the right of secession, which was considered very controversial in the north. Preston died May 1, 1881, in Columbia, S.C.

Brig. Gen Carnot Posey, CSA (b. 1818, d. 1863) No Civil War wound was not serious. Just study the case of Carnot Posey. Posey was hit in the leg during the Battle of Bristoe Station, Oct. 14, 1863. Assured the wound wasn’t serious, he continued with his duties. Infection set in and the minor wound ended up taking Posey’s life in Charlottesville, Va., Nov. 13, 1863. Posey saw extensive service in the Confederate army. Born in Wilkinson County, Miss., Aug. 5, 1818, Posey was educated at Jackson, La., and studied law at the University of Virginia. He was a planter for some time before starting a practice in Woodville, Miss. When the Mexican War broke out, Posey served as a first lieutenant in the First Mississippi Rifles. Following the war, he was appointed U.S. district attorney for the southern district of Mississippi by President Buchanan. He served in this capacity until 1861. He recruited the Wilkinson Rifles and was that unit’s captain. It was made part of the 16th Mississippi Infantry and Posey was elected colonel. The unit went to Virginia and fought at Ball’s Bluff and subsequent battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. Posey was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1862, in the aftermath of the Maryland Campaign. His brigade was part of Gen. Richard H. Anderson’s division in the Third Corps. He served in this capacity until after the Battle of Bristoe Station.

Brig. Gen. Lucius E. Polk, CSA (b. 1833, d. 1892) Advancing in rank from private to brigadier general, Lucius Eugene Polk fought with forces in the west until the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The nephew of Gen. Leonidas Polk was born July 10, 1833, in Salisbury, N.C. When he was two, the family moved to a plantation near Columbia, Tenn., Polk went to the University of Virginia in 1850-51 and then settled near Helena, Ark., becoming a planter. When the Civil War started, Polk enlisted in the Yell Rifles, led by Capt. Pat Cleburne. Polk followed Cleburne through the command for most of the war. As part of the 15th Arkansas Infantry, Polk received a promotion from junior second lieutenant to colonel of the regiment. This came after Polk was wounded in the face during the Battle of Shiloh. Polk rose to brigadier general Dec. 13, 1862, replacing Cleburne as the brigade commander. Polk’s command fought with praise at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga (holding Missionary Ridge until the supplies ran out) and into the Atlanta Campaign. Suffering his fourth wound of the war at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June 1864, Polk didn’t returned to active service and retired. Polk never fully recovered from his wounds. He did serve as a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1884. In 1887, he was elected to the Tennessee state senate. Two of Polk’s sons served in the Spanish-American War with one later becoming a member of Congress from Pennsylvania. Polk died near Columbia, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1892.

Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk, CSA (b. 1806, d. 1864) The “Bishop-Militant” at one time commanded much of the Confederate defenses before he was killed in command of a corps during the Atlanta Campaign. Polk, who left his role as a bishop in the Episcopal Church to lead Confederate troops, was instantly killed by a cannonball while surveying Federal positions with Gen. Joseph Johnston and Gen. Hardee June 14, 1864, near Marietta, Ga. (Pine Mountain). Polk was born in Raleigh, N.C., April 10, 1806. He attended the University of North Carolina before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1827. He was close friends with Jefferson Davis, who was in the next class. After graduation, Polk resigned to enter the ministry. It was said he was deeply influenced by the West Point chaplain. Polk received further education in the Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1830. He was appointed missionary bishop to the Southwest in 1836. He was named bishop of Louisiana in 1841. He led a successful campaign to establish a “great Episcopal university in the South.” He laid the cornerstone for the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1860. Polk felt the Confederacy was fighting for a sacred cause and left the ministry to join the army. Appointed a major general in the provisional Confederate Army June 25, 1861, At the start of the war, Polk commanded Department No. 2, which included everything from river defenses from the Red River to Paducah, Ky. He sent forces to fortify Columbus, Ky. He organized the Army of Mississippi, which later became part of the Army of Tennessee. He yielded command to A.S. Johnston, a former West Point roommate. Under Johnston’s command, Polk fought Federal Gen. U.S. Grant at the Battle of Belmont. When A.S. Johnston was killed at Shiloh. He served as a corps commander under Braxton Bragg during the Kentucky Campaign, fighting at Perryville before his promotion to lieutenant general Oct. 10, 1862. Polk continued to command a corps under Bragg, fighting at Murfressboro and Chickamauga. The pair had a strained relationship, which culminated in Bragg ordering Polk to stand for court martial for not attacking immediately at dawn Sept. 20, 1863, at the start of the Battle of Chickamauga. President Davis defused the situation by sending Polk to command the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. He opposed Federal Gen. Sherman’s march from Vicksburg to Meridian without success as commander of the Army of Mississippi. When that unit was sent to reinforce the Army of Tennessee, Polk found himself under the command of Gen. Joseph Johnston. While studying Federal positions under this new command, he was killed by an artillery shell. Polk also was known for his distinctive battle flags, a blue field with a red St. George’s cross with 11 stars. Fort Polk in Louisiana was named in his memory. Polk was very popular with the troops. It is rumored that the gunner who fired the fatal shot later committed suicide when he found out who he had killed.

[Gil R.]

Received. Thanks.

[Gil R.]

Okay, here's Preston. Seems like a swell fellow, but I had to give him bad ratings nonetheless.


Brig. Gen. John Smith Preston (b. 1809, d. 1881). Noted for his skills as an orator, Preston was an unreconstructed secessionist until the end. Born at the Salt Works near Abingdon, Virginia, on April 20, 1809, Preston was the half-uncle by marriage of Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton III. Preston was educated at Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Virginia and Harvard. He studied law at Harvard and began a practice in Abingdon before moving to Columbia, South Carolina, which he later left for a few years to engage in sugar planting in Louisiana. Returning to South Carolina in 1848, Preston served in the state senate until 1856. He lived abroad from 1856 to 1860, returning to head the state’s delegation to the Charleston Democratic convention. In 1861, he was a commissioner to Virginia Meaning what? Was he attending a secession convention? I’m not sure what a “commissioner to Virginia” would be. and made an impassioned plea for his native state to leave the Union. Preston served as a lieutenant colonel on the staff of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard during the siege of Fort Sumter and at First Manassas. He received a promotion to colonel April 23, 1863, and then to brigadier general June 10, 1864. Preston commanded prison camps and conscript camps before being named superintendent of the Bureau of Conscription on July 30, 1863, a position he held until it was dissolved. It was said that his skills as an orator made his stint in the unpopular position a successful one. After the war, Preston lived in England until 1868. He made a speech at the University of Virginia, which defended the right of secession, which was considered very controversial in the north. Is this linked to his having been commissioner? If so, this should be moved up. Preston died on May 1, 1881, in Columbia, S.C. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 4
Tactics: 1
Initiative: 1
Command: 1
Cavalry: 0

Start date: 82

[Gil R.]

Posey fares a bit better -- he actually did some fighting.

Brig. Gen. Carnot Posey (b. 1818, d. 1863). No Civil War wound was not serious. Just study the case of Posey, who was hit in the leg during the Battle of Bristoe Station, on Oct. 14, 1863. Assured that the wound was not serious, Posey continued with his duties. Infection set in and the minor wound ended up taking his life a month later, on Nov. 13, 1863, while the general was recuperating in Charlottesville, Virginia. At the time of his death, Posey had already seen extensive service in the Confederate army. Born in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, on Aug. 5, 1818, Posey was educated at Jackson, Louisiana, and studied law at the University of Virginia. He was a planter for some time before starting a law practice in Woodville, Mississippi. When the Mexican War broke out, Posey served as a 1st lieutenant in the 1st Mississippi Rifles. Following that war, he was appointed U.S. district attorney for the southern district of Mississippi by President James Buchanan, and he served in this capacity until 1861. After the Civil War began, Posey recruited the Wilkinson Rifles and became that unit’s captain, later being elected colonel of the 16th Mississippi Infantry when the Rifles were assigned to this regiment. The regiment went to Virginia and fought at Ball’s Bluff and subsequent battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. Posey was promoted to brigadier general on Nov. 1, 1862, in the aftermath of the Maryland Campaign, and commanded a brigade in Gen. Richard H. Anderson’s division in the Third Corps, until his fatal wounding at Bristoe Station. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 4
Tactics: 3
Initiative: 3
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Start date: 44

Teaches: Shooters

[Gil R.]

Here's the less famous Polk:



Brig. Gen. Lucius Eugene Polk. (b. 1833, d. 1892). Advancing in rank from private to brigadier general, Polk fought with forces in the west until the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The nephew of Confederate Gen. Leonidas Polk, he was born on July 10, 1833, in Salisbury, North Carolina. When he was two years old, his family moved to a plantation near Columbia, Tennessee. Polk attended the University of Virginia in 1850-51 and then settled near Helena, Arkansas, where he became a planter. When the Civil War started, Polk enlisted in the Yell Rifles, led by Capt. (later Gen.) Patrick R. Cleburne, a fellow resident of Helena. Polk served under Cleburne, who died at the Battle of Franklin in November 1864, for most of the war. As part of the 15th Arkansas Infantry, Polk received a promotion from junior second lieutenant to colonel of the regiment. This came after Polk was wounded in the face during the Battle of Shiloh. Polk rose to brigadier general on Dec. 13, 1862, replacing Cleburne as the brigade commander. Polk’s command fought with praise at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga (holding Missionary Ridge until the supplies ran out), and into the Atlanta Campaign. Suffering his fourth wound of the war at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June 1864, Polk did not return to active service and retired, never fully recovering from his wounds. He later served as a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1884, and in 1887 was elected to the Tennessee state senate. Two of Polk’s sons served in the Spanish-American War, with one later becoming a member of Congress from Pennsylvania. Polk died near Columbia, Tennessee, on Dec. 1, 1892. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 4
Tactics: 4
Initiative: 3
Command: 5
Cavalry: 0

Start date: 46

Teaches: Random (-1)

[Gil R.]

And here's Polk. Since he's important (a 25-percenter) I took the liberty of adding a few things from the Heidler's encyclopedia.


Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk (b. 1806, d. 1864). The “Bishop-Militant” at one time commanded much of the Confederate defenses before he was killed while commanding a corps during the Atlanta Campaign. Polk, who left his role as a bishop in the Episcopal Church to lead Confederate troops, was instantly killed by a cannonball while surveying Federal positions with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Gen. William J. Hardee on June 14, 1864, at Pine Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia. Polk, the son of a Revolutionary War hero, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on April 10, 1806. He attended the University of North Carolina for two years before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1827. He was close friends with Jefferson Davis, who was in the next class. After graduation, Polk resigned from the army to enter the ministry; it was said he that was deeply influenced by the West Point chaplain, before whom he had professed his Christian faith and by whom he was baptized in the academy’s chapel (I added this detail, which I found in my ACW encyclopedia). Polk received further education in the Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1830. He was appointed missionary bishop to the Southwest in 1836, and named bishop of Louisiana in 1841. He later led a successful campaign to establish a “great Episcopal university in the South,” and thus laid the cornerstone for the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, on Oct. 9, 1860. When war broke out, Polk, a slave-owning planter, felt that the Confederacy was fighting for a sacred cause and left the ministry to join the army. Appointed a major general in the provisional Confederate Army on June 25, 1861, at the start of the war, Polk commanded Department No. 2, which included an enormous territory that Polk was charged with defending, stretching up the Mississippi River from the Red River to the Tennessee-Kentucky border. This bit about Dept. No. 2 was a bit unclear, so I reworked it. Polk’s command is marred by his decision to send forces to seize and fortify Columbus, Kentucky, which antagonized that neutral state and spurred it to side with the Union. I added the preceding bit, too. Polk also organized the Army of Mississippi, which later became part of the Army of Tennessee, but soon yielded command to Gen. Albert S. Johnston, a former West Point roommate. Under Johnston’s command, Polk fought against Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Belmont. When Johnston was killed at Shiloh, Polk next served as a corps commander under Gen. Braxton Bragg during the Kentucky Campaign, fighting at Perryville before his promotion to lieutenant general on Oct. 10, 1862. Polk continued to command a corps under Bragg, fighting at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga. The pair had a strained relationship, which culminated in Bragg ordering Polk to stand for court martial for not attacking immediately at dawn on Sept. 20, 1863, at the start of the Battle of Chickamauga. Pres. Jefferson Davis defused the situation by sending Polk to command the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. Polk then opposed Gen. William T. Sherman’s march from Vicksburg to Meridian without success while commanding of the Army of Mississippi. When that force was sent to reinforce the Army of Tennessee, Polk found himself under the command of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, and soon thereafter he was killed by the artillery shell. Polk also was known for his distinctive battle flags, a blue field with a red St. George’s cross with eleven stars. Polk was very popular with the troops. It is rumored that the gunner who fired the fatal shot later committed suicide when he found out who he had killed. But this was an enemy artilleryman, so wouldn’t his suicide not have been caused by Polk’s popularity, but by the fact that he was a bishop? (Bio by Bill Battle)

Ratings previously assigned:
Leadership: 6
Tactics: 2
Initiative: 4
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Teaches: Nothing at all (Any objections?)

[jkBluesman]

I think if the gunner committed suicide it was because of Polk being a bishop, at least that was the one thing that infuriated most Southeners about his death.
Maybe he could teach faith? [;)]

[Battleline]

From what I've been able to gather, Preston was a commissioner to Virginia to try to sway that state to leave the Union.
His postwar speech had nothing to do with his role as a commissioner, but rather was just a speach.
As for Polk, I agree that the Federal gunner was depressed over killing a clergyman.
Your other changes look good.
I'm hoping I can get to at least four more this week.
Thanks,
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Oh, I didn't realize it was a post-war speech by Preston. Makes perfect sense, then. Thanks.

If you get to more bios this week that would be fine, but I've already got about 50 by you that are still unedited, so don't feel pressured on my account!


Here's how I changed Preston's bios to reflect your responses:

Brig. Gen. John Smith Preston (b. 1809, d. 1881). Noted for his skills as an orator, Preston was an unreconstructed secessionist until the end. Born at the Salt Works near Abingdon, Virginia, on April 20, 1809, Preston was the half-uncle by marriage of Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton III. Preston was educated at Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Virginia and Harvard. He studied law at Harvard and began a practice in Abingdon before moving to Columbia, South Carolina, which he later left for a few years to engage in sugar planting in Louisiana. Returning to South Carolina in 1848, Preston served in the state senate until 1856. He lived abroad from 1856 to 1860, returning to head the state’s delegation to the Charleston Democratic convention. In 1861, he served as a commissioner to Virginia and in this capacity made an impassioned plea for his native state to leave the Union. Preston served as a lieutenant colonel on the staff of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard during the siege of Fort Sumter and at First Manassas. He received a promotion to colonel April 23, 1863, and then to brigadier general June 10, 1864. Preston commanded prison camps and conscript camps before being named superintendent of the Bureau of Conscription on July 30, 1863, a position he held until it was dissolved. It was said that his skills as an orator made his stint in the unpopular position a successful one. After the war, Preston lived in England until 1868, and also at one point delivered a speech at the University of Virginia defending the South’s right of secession, which was considered very controversial in the former Union states. Preston died on May 1, 1881, in Columbia, S.C. (Bio by Bill Battle)