Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-09-22

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3l.-The following Is the
reply of Maj. Gen. Sherman TO Gen. Hoods
charge Of "studied and ungenerous cruelty"
which Sas received in Washington to-day;
HEADa'Rs military DIVISION or MBs.,)
In THE FIELr, AILAsTA, GA,
September 10, 1854.
Cen b. Hood, Commanding Army Of he Teanssse' +,
COnJedeTGte Amy
GENERAL: l have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter OF this date, at the
hands of Messrs. Ball and Crew, consenting TO
the arrangement had proposed to facilitate
the removal South OF the people of Atlanta who
prefer to go In that direction.
/ enclose you q copy Of my orders, which
will, am satisfied, accomplish my purpose
perfectly.
You style the measures proposed "unprece-
dented," and appeal TO the "dark history Of
war" for q parallel, as an act of studied and
uugenerous cruelty" II is not unprecedented,
for General Johnston himself very wisely and
properly removed the families all The pdy from
Dalton dCi1R, and sec no reason why Atlanta
should be excepted. Nor Is II necessary TO ap-
neal to the "dark History Of war; when recent
and modern examples are so handy.
You, yourself, burned dwelling houses along
your parapet, and have seen to-day flfty
houses that you have rendered uninhabitable
because they stood In the way of your forts and
men. You defended Atlanta on a line so close
to town that every cannon shot, and many
mnsket shots from our line Of investment, that
overshot their mark, went into the habitations
of women and children. General Hardee did
the same at Jonesboro', and General Johnston
did the same last summer at Jackson, Missis.
slppl.
/ have not accused you of heartless cruelty,
but merely instance those cases Of very recent
occurrence, and could 20 on and enumerate
hundreds Of others, and challenge any fair
man TO judge which OF us has the heart OF pity
for the families OF g. brave people"
] say 1t Is kindness TO these families Of At
lanta to remove them now at once from scenes
that women and children should not be exposed
to and he " brdUs people" should Seors 10 COM
NIT ter WiUes and children 10 The rude bdrbdrid,ts
rho nHs, as you say, ViO ale The lars Of DIr, as
illustrated In the pages Of Its dark history"
In the name Of common sense, ask you not
to "appeal to a just God" In such a sacrilegious
manner! You who, in the midst OF peace an d
prosperity, have plunged q nation into war
dark and cruel war-thus dared and badgered
us to battle, insulted our flag, seized our arse
nails and forts that were left In the honorable
custody of a peaceful ordnance sergeant, seized
and made prisoners Of even the very first gar,
risons sent to protect your people against ne.
groes and indians long before any otner act
was committed by the Ito you) "hateful Lin.
| coin Governments" tried to force Kentucky and
Missouri into rebellion In spite OF themselves,
| fasihed the vote Of Louisiana, turned loose
your privateers 10 plunder unarmed ships, ex.
PEELED Union families by the thousand, burned
their houses, and declared by act of your Con-
gress the confiscation OF all debts due Northern
men for goods had and received. Talk thus 70
the Mormonsi but 10 me, who have seen these
things, and who will this day make as much
sacrifice for the peace and honor Of the South
as the best born Southron among you! II We
must be enemies, let us be men ahd fight 1t out
as We propose to-day, and not deal in such
hypocritcal appeals to God and humanity.
God will judge US In due time, and He will
pronounce whether 1t be more humane TO fight
with a town full of women and the families OF
"bTaye people " at our back, or 10 remove
them in tune TO places Of safety among theiI
own friends and people.
am, very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
(Signed) W. 7. SHHRHAE,
Major General Commanding.
Official copy.
(signed) l.. NJ. DAYTON, Aid-de-Camp.