The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act requires all Army bases named after Confederate generals to undergo a name changes. On June 13, 2023, the military base known as Fort Polk in Louisiana had its name changed to Fort Johnson. It is one of nine military bases that have had or will have name changes. Who were these two men?
Leonidas Polk was an Episcopal Bishop in La. when the Civil War began. He had graduated from West Point, but left the army to become a planter/bishop. He owned over 100 slaves and was the largest slaveowner in the county. When the war began, he contacted old friend Jefferson Davis and was commissioned a Major General, although he had no war experience. He was one of the “political generals” both sides had. Polk commanded troops at Shiloh, Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. The funniest story about him occurred in the Battle of Perryville. A Gen. Cheatham yelled at his boys to “give ‘em hell!” Hearing this, the Fighting Bishop yelled to his men, “give ‘em what Gen. Cheatham said!” His career was an unending series of poor leadership decisions. He sent troops to occupy Columbus, Ky. at a time when the state was trying to remain neutral. His action forced Kentucky into the Union camp. He is most famous for his dysfunctional relationship with his superior, Braxton Bragg. He worked to get Bragg relieved. Bragg was a terrible general, but it didn’t help that an equally incompetent general was stabbing him in the back. In spite of this disloyalty, Polk was promoted to Lt. Gen., making him second only to James Longstreet in seniority at that rank. During the Chickamauga Campaign, Polk either didn’t attack or was late in attacking three times. Although Bragg won a big victory, it should have been bigger. Bragg later complained that if Polk had followed orders, the South might have won the war! Bragg relieved Polk, but Davis made sure he was transferred to a new command. He ended up being killed by artillery when he and a group of other generals was targeted. His death was mourned throughout the South as he was popular with the public and his soldiers. He was not popular with military historians, some of whom rank him as one of the worst generals in the war. In spite of this, a major Army training base in Louisiana was named Camp Polk in the 1940s. It went on to become the biggest Army base in La. (Fort Bragg in North Carolina was renamed Fort Liberty recently. I have no idea why the name change did not honor another minority hero.)
Henry Johnson was born in North Carolina. He received little education and was working as a railroad porter when WWI broke out. He enlisted in the Army. His unit, the 369th Infantry Regiment was sent to France where at first it was just put to work doing manual labor. Gen. Pershing ended up loaning the unit to the French army, possibly because white units refused to fight alongside African-American units. The AEF headquarters had put out a pamphlet to warn the French people that blacks were inferior and threats to French women. However, the French army respected them and they fought well under French command. The unit became known as the “Harlem Hellfighters” and was recognized by the Germans as tough opponents. Henry Johnson became the most famous member of the 369th.
On May 15, 1918, while on outpost duty, he heard wire cutters being used, so he and Needham Roberts went to investigate and both were wounded by grenades. The outpost was being attacked by at least a dozen Germans. He killed three Germans with his rifle, then used his 8 inch bolo knife to club a fourth who yelled: “The little black SOB has got me.” Johnson responded: “Yes, and his lil’ black SOB is going to get you again if you get up.” He looked around and saw two Germans carrying the wounded Roberts away. He put the knife through one of their skulls and into the other’s throat. The German officer now came at him with a pistol and shot Johnson who fell to his knees, but he drove the knife into his stomach. The remaining Germans had had enough and retreated. Johnson hurried them by throwing grenades at them. Johnson had suffered numerous wounds. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (their equivalent of the Medal of Honor). He was the first American to receive this decoration. In spite of his bravery, he was not recognized by the American Army. Although he suffered 21 wounds, he did not even get the Purple Heart until 1996. He did receive coverage in the black newspapers and was able to use his fame to speak out for better treatment for returning black vets. The Army soon put a stop to his speaking tour. Johnson died in obscurity and in poverty. He did not get the Medal of Honor until 2014 when President Obama awarded it posthumously.
Fort Johnson has joined other bases named after people who fought the United States. It is now named after a hero who fought for his country, despite his country’s treatment of his race.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Polk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Johnson_(World_War_I_soldier)
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2023/06/12/fort-polk-in-louisiana-takes-name-of-albany-s-henry-johnson-
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