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Catholic Newman Center (Parish of St. Stephen the Martyr) at Eastern Kentucky University P.O. Box 356 - 405 University Drive Richmond, Kentucky 40475
Dec. 2, 1983
Archivist Jesse [sic] Bell [sic] duPont Library University of the South Sewanee, Tenn. 37375
After recently reading Joseph Park's biography of Leonidas Polk I have some questions....
1) What was the extent or regularity of daily prayer in Bishop Polk's life during his career as a Confederate general/?
2) How much did he exercise formal religious leadership and lead prayer services during his miltary career?
3) What was the relationship of General-Bishop Polk with the chaplains assigned to his aray?
4) What was the apparent religiosity of Braxton Bragg and how did he regard Polk's clerical status?
Can you refer me to book which addresses any or all of these questions? Does any any material within the archives or within the library address these questions? I do have th inteerest and the ability to visit your university and look through selected materials.
Please respond in a way that will suggest a direction for my next step.
Respectfully yours, Rev. Paul Prabell
CHAPLAIN: Rev. Paul Prabell - Office 623-9400 - Residence 623-7291
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December 5, 1983
The Rev. Paul Prabell Catholic Newman Center P.O. Box 356 Richmond, KY 40475
Dear Chaplain Prabell:
Your questions about the religious activity of Bishop-General Polk could involve considerable research - are most interesting.
Joseph Parks is retired in nearby Winchester, Tennessee. He researched most thoroughly our Polk Collection and says he "put in everything he could find."
It would seem that most researchers agree that Bishop Polk officiated as a priest on four occasions only during his military career - on the death bed of Major Butler; for the wedding ceremony of Gen. John H. Morgan; the baptisms of General Hood and Gen. Joe Johnston.
Major W.D. Gale, his aide-de-camp, writes of these in his diary - as well as of the occasion of the General's reading morning service shortly before his death. Xeroxed copies of these parts of the transcripts are enclosed, as are certain pages from Quintard's story of the war. You might be interested in reading "Doctor Quintard, Chaplain C.S.A. and Second Bishop of Tennessee."
The December 1938 issue of the HISTORICAL MAGAZINE OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH is entirely devoted to Bishop Polk. One of the chapters, "The Confederate General" by James Postell Jervey might also be of interest to you.
The Polk Papers are available on microfilm.
The School of Theology's Library now shares the top floor of DuPont with the Archives. We have files of old church periodicals available for researh as well as other collections.
I don't have in mind any other specific source of information, but we'd be glad to have you visit our campus.
Our weather is much like yours. Winter is not too dependable here on the mountain.
Sincerely yours, Mrs. Arnold Mignery Archivist