SOUTHERN CROSS: A New View of Leonidas Polk and His Clashes with Braxton Bragg

1-251690

Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk was a distinguished West Point graduate, the first Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, a university founder, and a Confederate commander beloved by his troops, esteemed by the public, and killed on the field of battle. Seeks to analyze if historians' treatment of Polk's generalship and his personal character is fair and accurate. Employs a balanced perspective to shed new light on Polk's military leadership and reveal unexpected truths that explain his conflict with General Braxton Bragg. A seemingly insignificant piece of correspondence, along with an exploration of both men's writings, coalesce into an understanding of the root cause of the command dysfunction and chronic failures of the Army of Tennessee. Contains 48 photos, notes, bibliography, and index.