June 25, 1861

Leonidas Polk, who graduated from West Point in 1827 but had never served on active duty, joined the Confederate army and was appointed a major general. In slightly more than a year, he was promoted to lieutenant general. After graduation from West Point, Polk was ordained at Virginia Theological Seminary and, following a period of volunteer work for the Episcopal Church, was appointed bishop for mission work in the southwest. He is recognized for having established the Episcopal Church in Arkansas. Polk was killed at Kennesaw Mountain near Marietta, Georgia, three years after his activation in the army.