CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY:  Joseph B. Polley - Collin County, TX

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Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
7 June 2002 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson,  page 222 

J. B. POLLEY.

Joseph B. Polley, of Farmersville, is a veteran of Hood's Texas 
Brigade in the army of Northern Virginia.  Born in Brazoria county-
hence is a native Texan on October 27th, 1840, under the Lone Star 
during the time Texas was a re­public.  At Gaines Mill, Gen. Polley 
received a wound in the forehead, and on the Darbytown Road, in a 
reconnoisance, he received a wound in the foot which caused its 
amputation, hence he was deprived of being at the surrender of Lee at 
Appomattox.  On returning home he found employment as a farmer and 
stock raiser until 1876 when he took up the profession of law, in 
which he has made a success.  How­ever, before his loss of a foot, he 
participated in the famous campaigns of the Virginia army and the 
following battles:

Gaines Mill, Second Manassas, Chickamauga, Bacon Moun­tain, Knoxville, 
the Wilderness, and numerous other smaller engagements.  He entered 
the Confederate service from Gaudalupe county in June, 1861, as a 
private in Co. F., 4th Texas Infantry regiment which went direct to 
Richmond. The record of Hood's Brigade is a part of the Virginia army 
and one that all Texas points to with a just pride for its gallantry 
and glorious deeds in defense of the South in that great struggle for 
local self government.  Upon the organi­zation of the United Confederate 
Association, he took a deep interest and commanded the Texas division 
from 1898 to 1900.  Gen. Polley was married to Miss Mattie LeGette in 
1866, and has an interesting and intelligent family.  He possesses 
merit as a writer and his contributions on the war between the states 
has added much interesting history that will aid the future historians 
in compiling many truthful and historic events of that gigantic 
struggle.  The share in the war per­formed by young Polley, from the 
beginning to the wound that disabled him from active field service, 
is a heroic and charming one that his children can truthfully boast 
of.