June 11, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Discover a fresh perspective on one of the Civil War’s most controversial figures in Amanda Warren’s compelling talk, “A New View of Leonidas Polk.” Drawing from her book Southern Cross: A New View of Leonidas Polk and His Clashes with Braxton Bragg, Warren reexamines the life and leadership of the “Fighting Bishop.” This engaging presentation challenges long-held assumptions about Polk’s military performance and his complex relationship with Bragg. Was Leonidas Polk truly the incompetent general that many historians have portrayed him to be? Was Polk’s close relationship with Jefferson Davis the main reason for his high rank and influence? What really caused the bitter conflict between Polk and General Braxton Bragg in the Army of Tennessee? Through careful research and vivid storytelling, Warren brings new depth to Polk’s role in the Confederate command structure. Whether you’re a seasoned Civil War enthusiast or simply curious about overlooked historical narratives, this talk promises to reshape your understanding of a pivotal figure.
As the daughter of an army officer, Amanda Low Warren was immersed from an early age in military history. She grew up on army posts including Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she rode horses from the stable which sheltered the mounts of J.E.B. Stuart and other legends of the antebellum U.S. Army. Her reviews of Civil War books appear on numerous forums. Also a musician, Warren performs Civil War period music at historic sites, including the home of her ancestor who hosted General Sherman during his 1864 “visit” to Savannah, Georgia. She lives in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
