Polk Family Papers Box 12 Document

POLK papers: June 22, 1866

1866, June 22

Major Chas R. Barney, Howard County, Maryland, To Mrs. Francis Polk, at Columbia, Ten., re: in response to her request for some old University fund accounts of the Bishop with Maj.Barney; tribute to Leonidas Polk.

Glenelg, Howard Cty Maryland June 22, 1866

Mrs. Frances A. Polk Columbia, Tenn.

My Dear Madam

Your letter of the 8th inst. dated at Columbia Tenn, and mailed at Savannah on the 18th inst, was received by me on the 20th inst., when at Baltimore on a visit. The cause of the delay is attributed to my friend P. Harris & Sons at Baltimore to whose care it was addressed & who omitted to forward it to me.

As it was necessary for me to return to this place to refer to the lost papers & letters in reference to the University affairs, before I could give you what information I possessed therein I have been compelled to keep you a few days more in suspense.

I send herewith a copy of my closing account with the University, which was made up under the Bishop's supervision on the 25th May/61, previous to his & my leaving the place simultaneously.

With regard to the previous accounts, the last of which dated the 12th Aug/59 as is indicated on the face of the one sent as a balance being due me at that time of $1811.96 at the head of the copy of the document. I have not them here, but peradventure they may be with the bulk of my papers left in Baltimore, and if it is absolutely necessary for you to have copies of all former accounts settled, as testimony of the amt paid by the Bishop, please inform me & I will proceed at once to make a search for them & if found send you copies. Perhaps, I may not have them as I turned over my accounts & other documents to the Bishop, which were kept in the vault of the University, and afterward sent to Col. Pollard; but still I may have reserved copies of those accts. which if found

will show exactly what I received at the hand of the Bishop in form of drafts or in cash.

You state that [?] is asking the pay of a $553 note, signed by the Bishop for the use of the University -- and suppose that I may have some knowledge of the matter, but, I regret to say that I have not a recollection of the case.

I have deeply sympathized with you & your family for the heavy loss you have met with - but I lament it & will forever as a loss to the world of the greatest and best of men - whose place can never be filled (it is useless to say more.)

Bishop Elliott's funeral address lays eloquently before the world the excellency of a genius and a heart that never can be surpassed, and with a religious truth that cannot be questioned; all that we know our dear Bishop and Glorious General cannot but curse the War that took him from us.

I trust in Johnson for his eventual counseling of those fiendish radicals who seek to consummate the most diabolical scheme that rascality & wick -idness war could conceive.

I am happy to hear that Miss Sallie has found a friend & protector in Blake, who I hope will prove himself a blessing to her.

Present my kindest regard to Your Sons & daughters that many be spared as [comforting?] to you

Most respectfully and truly yours Chas R. Barney

Always direct letters that you may be induced to write to the Care of Saml. Harris & Sons, -- as one of the firm married my niece - and always knows my whereabouts. By mistake you neglected to forward your letter address care of Saml. Harris & Sons Brokers Baltimore

{written vertically on the left edge of the page}

I was Major in two companies of The Confederacy and go by that title now CRB