Historical Hottie And A Ghost?

Leonidas Polk

1806-1864

 

Here are some photographs of the portrait of Leonidas Polk that

 I took on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.

I went to hear a speaker at the parish hall at St. Peter's Episcopal 

Church in Columbia, Tennessee.

After the discussion, I went for snacks and noticed this portrait. 

Such a handsome man, I thought. So, I took a photo on my way.

 Then, when I got close up, I took another. 

Nice, but I wanted a better one. A close up that didn't have 

a glare. And, I wanted to see his face better. So, another 

was taken...

Darn that glare! Wait, what is that?????

It looks like  a face behind him.

So, I took another one.

Now, I can definitely see a face behind him! And, it's

 

screaming with, what looks like blood coming from it! 

Aargh!!!!

So, I showed it to a couple of people. And, then I heard the 

story of Reverend Polk.

Apparently, he was the founder of Sewanee, University of 

the South. He was a Bishop in Louisiana, which apparently,

 is why the school is connected to the Episcopalian Church.

After graduating from West Point, he had no experience in 

the military. Yet, when the Civil War broke out, he was 

given a command position. (Another example of gentry 

being given an esteemed position without experience) 

Polk became a Lieutenant General after three years in the 

army. He was a very large man. Supposedly, he was over 

six feet tall, over two-hundred points, and most probably 

closer to three-hundred. (Could this be a romanticized ideal?

 Maybe.)

At a position just north of Atlanta, Polk and his men were on

 one side near a hill. The Union Army was on the other side.

 Polk stood on top of the hill (maybe to get a better view?) 

And the Union Officer told his men to load their cannons 

and to then said "Let's get that fat man!"

The cannons fired, and hit Leonidas Polk in the head! If this

 is all true, then is the face screaming that of Polk, himself? 

Is the red "from" the head, the blood from his wound? 

Yes, it is supposed to be the chair. And, yes, it is the glare 

of the lamp. 

But, isn't this a cool argument?????!!!!

President James K. Polk Museum, Kitchen, And Sisters' House

Columbia, Tennessee

Kitchen

Pretty little violets peeking through the mulch

Sphinx book scraper

Inside the kitchen

Example of tobacco drying

Yep, I do know to work these.

I thought I would be artsy here.
Doll chair and pail in front of the kitchen fire

Door to the courtyard from the kitchen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outside the Sisters' House
The museum and offices are inside

Ophelia Hayes, the younger sister

This hottie is Polk's Vice President,  George Dallas (whom the city in Texas is named after)

General Gideon Pillow

Mrs. Pillow and son, George

Absolutely amazing tile!

also on the hearth

The man, himself!

I really tried to not get myself in the pic, but it was just too sunny

Dig the hair!

Reproduction of inauguration gown.

Can you see how incredibly small her feet were?
And, you know how much I love cameos! 

Closeup of the scenes on the fan