The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1864-10-01
GENERAL SHERMAN.
Noble Letter to General Hood-Iuissory NJ
the War In q NutsheIl.


Washington S pit. u. Tho following is the re.
ply Of General sherman 10 General Hocd's charge
Of 'studlci and ingenious cruelty" and which WIS
received in Washington to-day:
HEAporABTtns MILITARY DIVISION OF ruyN
hfssfssirrt IN THE Finn, ATLANTA, Ga,
September 10. 1854.
G,n'rat J. n Hood, Command M Army Of ths
Tennessee, Confederate Amy
GkSEaAL-I have tho honor 10 acknowledge the
receipt 81 your letter q this datc, the bands Of
Messrs Ball and crew, conserving 10 the arrange
ments l had proposed 10 facilitate, the removal
s'uth ofthe people Of Atlantis who prefer TO 60 in
that direction. enclose you copy Of my orders
which will, am satisfied, accomplish my orders
perfectly. You style the measure proposed ''un.
precedentcd and apes, to the dark history Of war
for parallel as IN act Of 'studiel and ingenious
cruelty" It is not unprccclen for Gen Johnston
himself very wisely and properly removed the
families all ITO way from Dalton down, and sec
no reason why Atlanta should be excepted. Nor Is
II necessary to appeal to the dark history Of war,
when recent aud modern examples 10 handy.
You, yourself, burned dwelling houses along yor
parspei, and have seen to-day fifty houses that
You have rendered uniphsbitshlc, because they
stood IA The way u your forts and men. You de-
Tended Atlanta on line close ~ the town, that
every cannon shot, and many musket 81 It's from
our lne of invostments that ovcr shot their mark
went into the hsbitations OF women and children.
Gcn lIarGec did the same thing at Jonosboro', and
ten. johnston did the same thing last Summer at
jackson, Miss. have not accused YOU OF heart
less cruelty, but merely instance these cases Of
very recent occurrence, aud could so on
and cnumerate hundreds ~ others, and
challenge any fnir man 20 Judge which or us
has the heart Of pity for the families OF .bravc
people," say IL Is n kindness a. these families OF
Atlanta H. remove them At once from scenes
which women and children should not be exposed
ha lfraN l.. IL.
their wives and children To the rude bsrbsrans
who thus, rs you say, violate tho laws OF war, rs
illustrated In the PAGES of ts dark history. In the
name Of common sense ask YOU not to appeal toa
Just Tod IN such a sscrilesnous msnncr-you, who
in the midst OF peace and prosperity, have PLUNGED
o nation into civil war, 'dark and cruel war" who
dared and badgered US to battle, insulted our fac
seized our arsenals and forts that left IN the
honorable custody 81 peaceful ordnance
sergeant, sezci and made prisoners Of wsr
the very garrisons sent % protect your people
sgainst negroes and IndiAus 'ns before
any overt act was committed by tic m Y L "haie.
ful Lincoln Government :" tried 10 force X atuckv
aud Missouri into the rebellion splte OF the usciyr-
flashed the vote Of louisiana turn.d loose your
prvatccrs 10 plumber unarmcd sNiIs expelled
Union families by the thousand, burned their
houses, and declared by act OF Your Con:ress ~
coniscation II all debts due Northern men ',t
goods had aud received. Talk thus to the mar mes,
but not to me. who have seen these thins and WHO
VIII this day make as much sacrifice for the peace
and honor Of the South the best born Southc ue-
among You. 1--WE must he enemies, le, Ne he men,
and night u out n we propose to-day, and nos teal
in such hypocrltical appeals TO God and human s.
God VII judge US in due time, AMI no y !, pro-
nounce whether II be more humane 10 fight with
town full OF women and the families ii "hrave
people" Al our back or 10 remove them Ia time TO
places Of safety among their own friends rnG p
pie.
/ am very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
T. W. SHERMAN.
Major General Comd'g.