Jim Martin
Maybe, June 15th?
Thu Apr 19 17:24:38 2001


Dear Terry,

Is it possible the date of his death may have been June 15th instead of July 15th. Included with this posting is a copy of W.T. Sherman's report to Henry W. Halleck of a battle at Big Shanty, GA. Please note the reference to the 40th Alabama Infantry.

BIG SHANTY, GA., June 15, 1864--7.30 p. m. (Received 2 a. m. 16th.) Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.:

After the long storm had cleared away I examined carefully our whole front, and found the enemy occupying the series of broken ridges and hills which forms the water-shed between the Etowah and Chattahoochee, embracing three prominent peaks, Kenesaw, Pine Hill, and Lost Mountain. Pine Hill is about four miles southwest of Kenesaw, and was the apex of the triangle, the salient of the enemy's position. All seemed well fortified, and connected by lines of breast-works in the midst of dense chestnut woods. I first ordered Thomas to push Palmer's and Howard's corps in the interval between Kenesaw and Pine Hill, till they occupied a certain road, the batteries in front of Pine Hill occupying the attention of the enemy. One of these shots killed Bishop Polk. The movement was perfectly successful, and this morning Pine Hill was abandoned to us, strongly fortified. This morning I ordered Schofield on the right to threaten Lost Mountain, and McPherson to threaten to turn Kenesaw by the left, while Thomas pushed his whole army to break the center. Schofield carried the first line of the enemy's works, left exposed by the loss of Pine Hill, and has some 40 prisoners. McPherson carried a hill to his left front, taking the Fortieth Alabama Regt. entire, 320 strong, and Thomas has pushed the enemy back about one mile and a half, and is still moving. I hope he will pass the dividing ridge, in which case the enemy's position will be untenable. I left him about sundown, but the ground was so obscured by bushes that we could not discern whether the enemy had a second line of earth-works, connecting Kenesaw and Lost Mountain, and I do not want to give them time to form one. From Pine Hill we can see Marietta. Losses to-day very small, it having been one grand skirmish, extending along a front of eight miles. All intercepted dispatch reports the death, by a cannon-shot, of Bishop Polk, and it is confirmed by the prisoners.
W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen.