The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-08-24
Con. sherman VS.. Mas.achusctts.

The following letter explains itself vii
our readers who are still dreaming of qucl
ing this rebellion by employing negroes q.
"the defenders of the Constitution ant
Laws OF this glorious Union,' pleas,
to note carefully the specific objection
made by the heroic Sherman to the COW
srdly policy of Massachusetts If tn,
perusal Of this battery Of facts does no
cure those who have been relying on "color
ed men" to restore the country to peace W,
can think Of no medicine that will reacl
their case. Note particularly Nos. 9, Sand
4 of Sherman's objections:
HsApaR's MILITARY DIVISION OF THE Mississippi, /,
| IN FIELD NEAR ATLANTA, GA, July 30.
JOHN A. SPooNER, Esq, Agent for the Com
monwealth Of Massachusetts,, Nashville
Tenn:
SIR-Yours from Chattanooga, July %
is received notifying me of your appoint.
ment by your State as Lieut.. Colonel and
Provost Marshal Of Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi, under the act of Congress ap.
proved July 4, 1864, to recruit volunteers
to be credited to the State respectively.
On applying to Gen. Webster at Nash
! vile, he will grant You pass through our
lines to those States, and as l have had
| considerable experience in those States,
would suggest recruiting depots to be es
tablished at Macon and Columbus, Miss,
Selma, Montgomery and Mobile, Ala, and
Columbus, Milledgeville and Savannah,
Georgia. ..I... ..~.. $500 rr~..
do not see that the law restricts you to
black recruits, but you are at liberty to
collect white recruits, also. 1t is a waste
OF time and money to open rendezvous in
Northwest Georgia, for assure you have
not seen an able bodied man, black or
white, there fit for soldier, who was not
in this army or the one opposed to it.
You speak of the impression going
abroad that am opposed to the organi-
sation of colored regiments.
My opinions are usually very positive,
and there is no reason why you should not
know them. e.. .e.t =. a.3.e.a- "a. "r
Though entertaining profound reverence
for our Congress, do doubt their wis
dom in the passage Of this law:
l. Because civilian agents about an army
are nuisance. -a
2. The duty OF citizens to fight for their
by buying up the refuse of other States.
y. Ii is unjust to the brave soldiers and
TTo,untecrs who are fighting, as those who
compose this army do, to place them on a
par with the class Of recruits you are after
4. The negro is in transition state, and
is not the equal Of the white man. ara.
5. He is liberated from his bondage by
act of war; and the armies IN the field are
entitled to all his assistance in labor and
fighting, in addition to the proper quotas
of the States.
6. This bidding and bartering for recruits,
white and black, has delayed the reinforce.
ment of our armies at the times when such
reinforcements would have enabled US to
make our successes permanent
Z. The new law is an experiment, which,
pending war, is unwise and unsafe, and
has delayed the universal draft which ]
firmly believe will become necessary to
overcome the widespread resistance offered
us; and | also believe the universal draft
will be wise and beneficial :; for under the
providence of God it will separate the
sheep from the goats, and demonstrate
what citizens will fight for their country,
and what will only talk.
No one will infer from this that am not
friend Of the negro as well as the white
race; contend that the treason ard rebel
lion of the master freed the slave, and the
armies | have commanded have conducted
to safe points more negroes than those of
any General officer in the army; but pre-
fer negroes for pioneers, Transfers, cooks
and servants, others gradually to expert.
ment in the art of the soldier. beginning
with the duties of local garrisons, such s
we had at Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez,
Nashville and Chattanooga but | would
not draw on the poor race for too large
proportion Of its active, athletic young
men, for some must remain to seek new
homes and provide for the old and young
the feeble and helpless.
These are some of my peculiar notions, but
assure you they are shared by large
proportion of our fighting men.
You may show this to the agents of the
other States in the same business as your.
self. am, &C.,
I. w. SHERMAN, Maj. Gen.