By this time in northern Georgia, General Joseph E. Johnston’s Confederate Army of Tennessee had formed a line facing north, with the left (west) on Lost Mountain, the center bisecting the Western & Atlantic Railroad (in front of Kennesaw Mountain), and the right at Brush Mountain, north of Marietta. Major-General William T. Sherman was trying to find a way for his three Federal armies to move around these formidable defenses, and a portion of Major-General George H. Thomas’s Federal Army of the Cumberland was working its way around Pine Mountain to the west.
Johnston and two of his corps commanders, Lieutenant-Generals William Hardee and Leonidas Polk, personally scaled the crest of Pine Mountain on June 14 to see the three Federal armies on the plain 300 feet below. Johnston informed Hardee that his troops were overextended and must withdraw to meet the Federal threat coming around the mountain.
The commanders stood atop an artillery redoubt to get a better view. Aides warned them that the enemy Parrott rifles a half-mile way had been routinely hitting the area with fire. According to Sherman:
“When abreast of Pine Mountain, I noticed a rebel battery on its crest, with a continuous line of fresh rifle-trench about half-way down the hill. Our skirmishers were at the time engaged in the woods about the base of this hill between the lines, and I estimated the distance to the battery on the crest at about eight hundred yards. Near it, in plain view, stood a group of the enemy, evidently observing us with glasses.”
Johnston recalled in his memoirs, “Just when we had concluded our examination, and the abandonment of the hill had been decided upon, a party of soldiers, that had gathered behind us from mere curiosity, apparently tempted an artillery officer whose battery was in front, six or seven hundred yards from us, to open his fire upon them; at first firing shot very slowly.”
Sherman reacted to this enemy fire by telling gunners at a nearby Federal battery, “How saucy they are! Make ‘em take cover.” A solid shot exploded near the Confederate commanders, prompting them to move for cover. Johnston wrote that Polk, bringing up the rear and “unconsciously exposed by his characteristic insensibility to danger, fell by the third shot, which passed from left to right through the middle of his chest.”
Polk died instantly. Both Johnston and Hardee mourned the loss of their friend; Hardee told Johnston, “General, this has been a dear visit. We have lost a brave man, whose death leaves a vacancy not easily filled.” Johnston wrote, “The death of this eminent Christian and soldier, who had been distinguished in every battle in which the Army of Tennessee had been engaged, produced deep sorrow in our troops.”
Polk, an Episcopalian clergyman, was not considered a great general, but he was one of the most beloved among the officers and men as the “fighting Bishop.” That night, Johnston announced Polk’s death to the troops: “In this distinguished leader, we have lost the most courteous of gentlemen, the most gallant of soldiers. The Christian patriot soldier has neither lived nor died in vain. His example is before you; his mantle rests with you.”
According to Sherman, a Federal “signal-officer reported that by studying the enemy’s signals he had learned the key and that he could read their signals.” Sherman went on:
“He explained to me that he had translated a signal about noon, from Pine Mountain to Marietta, ‘Send an ambulance for General Polk’s body;’ and later in the day another, ‘Why don’t you send an ambulance for General Polk?’ From this we inferred that General Polk had been killed, but how or where we knew not; and this inference was confirmed later in the same day by the report of some prisoners who had been captured.”
The next day, Thomas’s Federals continued moving around Pine Mountain, toward Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman reported to Washington, “We killed Bishop Polk yesterday, and have made good progress today.”
The Confederates responded by pulling back their left to stronger defenses along Mud Creek. Frustrated, Sherman wrote Chief of Staff Henry W. Halleck, “I am now inclined to feign on both flanks and assault the center. It may cost us dear, but in results would surpass any attempt to pass around.”
After a few more days of skirmishing and repositioning, Johnston had formed a new semicircular defensive line:
- Lieutenant-General John Bell Hood’s corps held the right, north of Marietta along the Western & Atlantic Railroad
- Polk’s corps, now commanded by Major-General William W. Loring, held the center, which ran southwest through Kennesaw Mountain
- Hardee’s corps held the left, which curved southeast and ended south of Marietta
This five-mile line was Johnston’s strongest since the campaign began in May. Sherman continued to try flanking maneuvers, sending Federals around Hardee’s left to try reaching the railroad south of Marietta. Johnston responded by shifting Hood’s corps from the right to Hardee’s left and filling his right with Major-General Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry. Wheeler’s Confederates harassed Sherman’s left flank, manned by Major-General James B. McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee.
After more maneuvering and skirmishing, Sherman reported on the 21st:
“This is the nineteenth day of rain, and the prospect of fair weather is as far off as ever. The roads are impassable; the fields and woods become quagmire’s after a few wagons have crossed over. Yet we are at work all the time. The left flank is across Noonday Creek, and the right is across Nose’s Creek. The enemy still holds Kenesaw, a conical mountain, with Marietta behind it, and has his flanks retired, to cover that town and the railroad behind. I am all ready to attack the moment the weather and roads will permit troops and artillery to move with any thing like life.”
By this time, Hood held the area around Kolb’s Farm, southwest of Marietta. Major-General John Schofield’s Army of the Ohio, supported by Major-General Joseph Hooker’s Twentieth Corps from Thomas’s army, began probing the Confederate lines there. This would trigger a fight the next day.
Bibliography
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