Okolona,Miss.
July 12. 1864
My Dearest wife,
We start forward at 6:00 pm this evening on the road to Pontotoc,being five miles this side of that place. We will probably fight tomorrow. The enemy are 14,00 strong & is expected will fight hard but we hope fo success. Pray for us that we will be successful. I have been thinking of you ever since my leaving Aberdeen. If it is fated that I never see you again you must be sure that my heart has always been yours & has never gone out from you. Take care of yourself my darling & think of me kindly. I am in command of the 1st Miss. Inf. & Reynolds Battalion. I dont know how they will act but trust it will be well. God bless you my darling wife. I send Clara back tonight. Stay at Aunt ???? till I come.
Your own husband,
Marshall Polk
I cant find anything on Reynolds Battalion. ??
After Shiloh,capture & leg amputation he was paroled to Mrs. James K. polk,his aunt & adoptive mother in Nashville. Returned to duty and promoted by Jefferson Davis.Leonidas Polk made him a staff officer right before Stones River.
Col. Polk was in command of Aberdeen are and then was called back into the field.Afters Gen.Polks death,which he was a staff officer,Col Polk moved around in North Miss. He went to West Point with Stephen Lee. etc.