Bio: Leonidas Polk, Caddo Parish La Source: From Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928, Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************************** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************ LEONIDAS POLK, Soldier And Protestant Bishop LEONIDAS POLK was born at Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1806. He was educated at the University of North Carolina and United Slates Military Academy from which he graduated in 1827, resigning from the army the same year. He was ordained a priest in the Protestant Episcopal church in 1830, in 1838 he was appointed Missionary Bishop and in 1841 became Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, He was active in founding the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. We find the Bishop at the dedicatory services of Second Christ Church in 1846 and holding services all over the state. Under difficulties; he came to Shreveport and held the first religious services in 1839 in an old warehouse. The subject was very unpopular at that time and the captain of the boat on which the Bishop came, "stood by" him and went out among the residences to ring a bell that announced that services were to he held. The second service he held in Shreveport was two years later. He was present and dedicated the St. Mark's Church here in 1861. Just before leaving the section of the country, never to return, he held Confirmation services in 1851. Because of the fact that his wife inherited a large number of slaves Bishop Polk embarked in the hazardous undertaking of sugar planting. His multitudinous church duties, epidemics of yellow fever and cholera caused the failure of the business and the loss of the home, Leighton in Louisiana. He subsequently purchased cotton lands in Mississippi and moved his family to New Orleans, where be first conceived the idea of founding the University of the south. When secession arose, Bishop Polk felt it to be his duty to offer his services to the Confederacy in May, 1861. Profound satisfaction on all sides was expressed at this action. As he descended the steps of the capitol in Richmond one of his friends congratulated him upon his promotion. "Pardon me," said Polk gravely, "I do not consider it a promotion. The highest office on earth is that of a bishop in the Church of God." And when another said, "What! You, a bishop, throw off the gown for the sword?" "No, Sir," replied the Bishop instantly, "I buckle the sword over the gown." It was only a few days before he died that he said that he felt as if he were a man whose house was on fire and has left his business to put it out. He meant what he said about this as will be noted front his religious work as he fought; that he confirmed Generals Joseph E. Johnston, Lieut. Gen. Hardee and Lieut. Gen. Hood. Upon his body after he was shot were found his book of prayer and four little volumes, three of which bore the names of the generals mentioned above and the fourth one with his own name. These volumes were, "Balm for the Weary and Wounded." The date in them was Juno 12, 1864. In 1902 a very beautiful ceremony and dedication of a memorial to Bishop Polk was held on the top of Pine Mountain, Georgia, erected on the spot where he was killed. On the South side of the monument is inscribed the word, "South" the Confederate flag with the dates 1861 and 1865, and the following: "In memory of Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk, who fell on this spot. Folding his arms across his breast, he stood gazing on the scene below, turning himself around as if to take a farewell view. There standing, a cannon shot from the enemy's gun crashed through his breast and opened a wide door through which his spirit took its flight to join his comrades on the other shore. Surely the earth never opened her arms to allow the head of a braver man to rest upon her bosom; surely the light never pushed the darkness back to make brighter the road that leads to the Lamb, and surely th gates of heaven never opened wider to allow a more manly spirit to enter therein. Erected by J. Gid and Mary Morris, April 10, 1902." Space forbids justice being given Bishop Polk's biography in this history of a city with which the "Fghting Bishop" is so lovingly related; but the biography of himy by his son, Dr. William M. Polk, published by Longman, Green & Company, New York City will furnish profitable reading to the student. The Bishop's daughter, Mrs. Blake, now resides in Philadelphia. The biographical sketches given in the Encyclopedias are very meager but there is quite frequently some interesting matter relating to him in the Confederate Veteran published in Nashville. In May, 1899, and May, 1902, will he found material on Leonidas Polk. He was a most wonderful man and one that Shreveporters especially will never forget. The life of Bishop Polk, (Longman, Green Co., New York City) is well worth the reading. Note: The following was taken from the Confederate Veteran: POLK. "A flash from the hostile trench, A puff of smoke, a roar, Whose echoes shall roll from Kennesaw's Hills To the furthermost Christian shore, Proclaim to the world that warrior priest Will battle for the right no more. "And that for a cause which is sanctified By the blood of martyrs unknown, A cause for which they gave their lives And for which he gave his own, He kneels, a meek ambassador, At the foot of the Father's throne. "And up to the courts of another world, That angels alone have trod, He lives away from the din and strife Of this blood.besprinkled sod-- Crowned by the amaranthine wreath That is worn by the blest if God.