Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-09-27

The rebel Gen. Hood having grown hercely
indignant, and waxed exceedingly and eloqusn'y
wroth over Gen. Sherman's order Tor non com
batants to leave Atlanta, those having hu'oanu'
or brothers IN the rebel army TO 60 oou'n' S"u
those willing TO take the oath OF allegiance 70 90
North, Gen. Sherman administers Wholesome
correction to the rebel chleftaln, in the following
letter, which turns Hoods flank, and Discounts
him episoary as handsomely as Shermans
strategy in the capture Of Atlanta did mII'arIly
HDQRs MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MIS- }
sIsslPPI, In THE FIELD,
ATLANTA, GA. Sept. 10, 1864 }
Gen. j. b. Hoop, Commanding army Of the
Tennessee, Confederate .7rmy.
GENERAL: | have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter Of this date at the hands
Of Messrs Ball ant Crew, consentlng to the
arrangements | had proposed TO facilitate the
removal South ofthe people Of Atlanta, who prefer
to 90 10 that direction. ! enclose YOU copy OF
my orGers, which will / am satisfied, accomplish
my purpose perfectly. You style the measures
pfopo,ed unprecedented" and appeal to the
dark history of war for q parallel as an act OF
" studied uugenerouS cruelty 1t IS not unprece-
dented for General johnson himself very wisely
and properly removed the families oil the way
from Dalton down, and | see no reason Why
Atlaut should be exceptel. Nor y It Necessary
to appeal to the dark history Of war when recent
and modern examples are 50 handy. You, your
self burned dwelling houses along your parapei,
and have seen to day fifty houses that you have
rendered unnhabitabIe, because they stood 10 the
say Of your f0ris aud men. You defended
Atlanta on line 20 close t. the town, that every
cannon shot, and many musket shots from our line
Of Investments, that oyershot tnelr marx, vent
into the habi,alion. Of women and children. Gen.
| Hsrdee did the SINE at Jones0ogo, ana Zen.
| Johnston did the .ame at Jackson, Miss have
not accused you Of heartless cruelty, but merely
instance those cases Of very recent occurrences,
and could 20 on and en1merate hundreds OF
Others, aud challenge any fair man to Judge which
of US has the hear. Of pity for the families Of a
brave people," | say, /. IS kindness TO these
families OF Atlanta to remove them now al once
from scenes that women aad children should not
be exposed To-; and the brave people should scorn
to commit their wives and children to the rude
barblr.4ns, who hus, as you say, violate the laws
Of war as Illustrated in tbs pages Of its dark
history 10 The name oicommon sense, ask you
not to appeal to Just God in such . s,creligious
m4nner-you who, in the midst Of peace and
prosperity have plunged nation into civil war,
- DARK and cruel war" who dared and badgered
US to battle, insuted our flag, seized our arseDas
and forts hat were left in the honorable custody
Of peaceful ordnance sergeant, seized aud made
prisoners ofwar the ye-y garriscns sent to protect
your people against negroes and Indians, long
before any overt act was committed by the 10
you" hateful Lincoln Government, tried to force
Kentucky and Missouri into the rebellion spite Of
themselves, hsitied the vote Of Louisiana, turned
loose your priy4tesrs to plumber unarmed ships
expelled Union families by the thousand, burned
their houses and declared by act Of your Congress
the confscaton Of all debts due Northern men
for goods had and received. Talk thus to the
marlues but not TO me- who have seen these
things and will this day mike as much sacrifice
for the peace and honor Of the South, as he best
born Scutberncr among you. If we must be
enemies, let US be men, and fight it out as we pre-.
pose to do, md not deal in such hypocritice
appsa.s to God and humanity. God will Judge u
in due time and he will pronounce whether ii be
more humane to fight with town full Of women
and the families of brave people, OF our back
or 10 remove them 10 time 10 places Of safety
among their own friends and people.
am, very respectfully, your ob't servant,
W. 7. SHERMAN, Maj Gen Com z.
ofieia copy--L. NJ. DAYTON, A. d C.