[
505]
[The following paper was sent by
General French and read before the
Louisville Branch of the Southern Historical Society:]
On the 14th of June, 1864, the army under
General Joseph E. Johnston occupied a line of hastily-constructed works of several miles in length, extending from near
Lost Mountain to a point about a mile north of
Kennesaw Mountain.
The general direction of this line, from our left, was north of east, and it was confronted in its entire length by the
Federal army under
General W. T. Sherman.
Johnston's command numbered 48,800, and that of
Sherman, by official reports, 112,800.
The better to explain movements previous to assuming position on
Kennesaw Mountain, I will make some extracts from my diary.
June 14, 1864.
This morning, by written orders,
General Loring moved to the right;
General Canty from the left to the centre, and I extended to the right.
Rode over to see
General Polk; asked him when
General Johnston and he went to the right to come down my line; said they probably would. * * * * At 12 M. heard that
General Polk was dead; sent an officer to his headquarters to inquire, and learned the report too true.
Went to headquarters at 2.30 P. M., but his remains had just left for
Marietta.
He had accompanied
General Johnston to the left and gone to
Pine Mountain, and while there the party was fired on by one of the
Federal batteries, and the third shot fired struck the
General on the left side and killed him instantly. * * *
