The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
'There is no one better known in the country as a scholar, a
politician, and a wit, than Wm. H. Polk, of Tennessee. He has a
plantation some forty miles from Nashville, lives comfortably, has
a joke for every one, and is, withal, a resolute man in his
opinions. He was the opponent of the evanescent Harris, who has
disappeared mysteriously, and voted for by the coöperationists in
the election for Governor of that State. About a month ago notice
came to him that he must leave the State: a notice which, however,
he did not obey. His description of the terror of the rebels on
the taking of Nashville is said to be supremely rich. Among other
incidents, is one of peculiar interest to us Kentuckians,
concerning the fate of the late Provisional Government.
'Colonel Polk, a few days before the arrival of our army at
Nashville, and, indeed, before he heard of the fall of Fort
Donelson, in going down the road from his farm, descried a fat,
ragged, bushy-headed, tangled-mustached, dilapidated-looking
creature, (something like an Italian organ-grinder in distress,)
so disguised in mud as to be scarcely recognizable. What was his
surprise, on a nearer approach, to see that it was the redoubtable
George N. Sanders.
'George had met the enemy, and he was theirs--not in person, but
in feeling. His heart was lost, his breeches were ragged, and his
boots showed a set of fat, gouty toes protruding from them. The
better part of him was gone, and gone a good distance.
''In the name of God, George, is that you?' said the
ex-Congressman.
''Me!' said the immortal George; 'I wish it wasn't; I wish I was
any thing but me. But what is the news here? is there any one
running? They are all running back there,' (pointing over his
shoulder with his thumb.)
''No,' said Mr. Polk; 'not that I know of. You needn't mind
pulling up the seat of your pantaloons; I'm not noticing. What in
the ---- are you doing here, looking like a muddy Lazarus in the
painted cloth?'
''Bill,' said George to the Tennesseean confidentially, and his
tones would have moved a heart of stone: 'Bill, you always was a
friend of mine. I know'd you a long while ago, and honored
you--cuss me, if I didn't. I said you was a man bound to rise. I
told Jimmy Polk so--me and Jimmy was familiar friends. I intended
to get up a biographical notice of you in the _Democratic Review_,
but that ---- Corby stopped it I'm glad to see you; I'll swear I
am.'
''Of course, old fellow,' said the charitable Tennesseean, more in
pity of his tones than even of the flattering eloquence: 'but what
is the matter?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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