Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-09-30


atGn.
liEADQ'Rs MILITARY DIyIs1oN0
OF THE MISSISSIPPI
In the Field, Atlantic, Co.,
Sept 9, 1864.
Gen. j. b. Hocd, Gommandiaq Agmas If
1ennessec-COnfederate .A1my:
GENERAL:-l have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of
this date, at the hands of Messrs. Bail and
Crew, conserving to the arrangements |
had proposed to facilitate the removal
South Of the people of Atlanta, who pre-
fer to 90 in that direction. | enclose You
a copy of my orders, which will, [ am sat
listed, accomplish my purpose perfectly.
You style the measures proposed "unprc-
cedented and appeal to the dark history
Of war for parallel, as an act of "studied
and ingenious cruelty" 1t is not unpre-
ccdented, for Gen. johnson himself, very
wisely and properly, removed the families
all the way from Dalton down, and | sec
no reason why Atlanta should be ex-
cePted.
Nor is it necessary to appeal to the dark
history Of war, when recent aud modern
examples are SO handy. You yourself
burned dwelling houses along your para
pet, and | have seen to-day fifty houses
that You have rendered uninhabitable be-
cause they stood in the way of your forts
and men. You defended Atlanta on Il
line So close to town that every cannon
shot, and many musket balls from our line
of investment that overshot their mark,
went into the habitatiOns of women and
children. Gen. Hardee did the Same at
Jonesboro', and Gen. Johnston did the
same last summer at jackson, Mississippi.
have not accused you Of heartlcSs cruel
ty, but merely instance these cases Of very
recent occurrence, and could 90 OH and
enumerate hundreds of others and chal-
lenge any fair man to Judge which Of us
has the heart of pity for the families Of Il
brave people
| say that it is a kindness to these fam
lilies of Atlanta to remove them now, at
once from the scenes that women and chill
dren should not be exposed to, and the
brave people should scorn to commit their
wives and children TO the rude barharians
who TINS, as You say, violate the laws of
war, rs illustrated in the pages of its dark
history.
In the name OF common sense, ask
you not to appeal TO q Just God in snch a
sacriIigious manner. You, who in the
midst of peace and prosperity have plum
ged 4 nation into war, dark and cruel war,
who dared and badgered us to battle, in
shifted our flag, seized our arsenalS and
forts that were left in the honorable Gus
tody of peaceful ordnance sergeant, and
seized and made prisoners of war, the very
garrisons sent to protect your people
against negroes and Indians.
Long before any overt act was commit
ted by the, to you, hateful Lincoln govern
ment, you tried to force Kentucky and Mis-
souri, into rebellion in spite OF themselves,
falsifeI the vote Of Louisiana, turned
loose your pirates to plumber unarmed
ships, expelled Union families by thou
sands, burned their homes and declared by
an act Of Your Congress the contiscatlon
of all debts due Northern men for goods
had and received.
Talk thus to marines, but not to me, who
have seen these Things and who will tins
day make Us much sacrifice for the peace
and honor Of the South, as the best born
Soatherncr among You. If we must be
enemies let us DC men, and fight it out as
We propose to do, and not deal in such
hypocrtical appeals to God and humanity.
God will Judge rs in due time, and he will
pronounce whether it will be more ha-
name to fight with town full Of women
and the families of brave people at our
backs, or to remove them in time, to
places of safety among their own friends
and people.
am very respectfully,
Your obeiient servant,
n A
(Si2ned W. I. SHERMAN,
Official COPY: Major General.