Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-10-01
Gen. shcrman's Reply 10 Hood.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.--The following is
the reply of General Sherman to General
Hoods charge of "studied and ungenerous
cruelty" and which was received in Wash
ington to-day -
HEAD-QUARTERs MILITARY DIVISION OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, In THE FIELD, ATLANTA,
Ga, Sept. 10, 1S64.-Gencral j. B. Hood,
commanding Army of of the Tennessee, Con-
federate army y:-Gcneral-I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
OF this date at the hands of Messrs. Ball and
Crew, conscnting to the arrangements had
proposed to ficilitate the removal South of
the people of Atlanta who prefer to go in
that direction
l enclose you copy ofmy orders, which
will, l am satisfied, accomplish my purpose
perfectly. You style the measures proposed
unprecedented" and appeal to the dark
history of war for parallel, as an act of
studied and ungenerous cruelty" 1t is not
unprecedented, for General Johnston him.
self very wisely and properly removed the
families all the way from Dalton down, and
see no reason why Atlanta should be cx.
cepted. Nor is it necessary to appeal 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
fifty houses that you have rendered unn-
habitable, because they stood in the way of
your forts and men. You defended Atlanta
on line so close to town that every cannon
shot and many musket shots from our line
of investment that overshot their mark,
went into the habitations Of women and
children. General Harder did the same at
Jonesboro', and General Johnston did the
same last summer at Jackson, Miss.
l have not accused them of heartless cruel
ty, but merely instance these cases Of very
recent occurrence, and could go on and
enumerate hundred of others, and challenge
any fair man to judge which of US has the
heart Of pity for the families of q "brave peo-
pie" say it is kindness to the families of
Atlanta to remove them, not at once, from
senses that women and children should not
be exposed to, and the "brave people"
should scorn to commit their wives and
children to the rude barbarians who thus,
as you say, violate the laws of war, as
illustrated in the pages of its dark his
tory"
In the name OF coinrion sense ask you
not TO appeal to just God in such sacri;
.egious manner. You, who in the midst of
peace and prosterity, have plunged nation
into war--"dark and cruel war;" who dared
and badgered US to battle, insulted our flag,
seized our arsenals and forts that were left
in the honorable custody OF q peaceful ordi-
ance sergeant, siezed and made prisoners OF
war the very garrisons sent to protect your
people against negroes and Indians, long be-
fore any overt act was committed by the Ito
you) hateful Lincoln Government, tried to
force Kentucky and Missouri into rebellion
despite of themselves, calsified the vote OF
Louisiana, turned loose your privateers to
plunder unarmed ships, expelled Union fami
lies by the thousands, burned their homes,
and declared by act of your Congress the
confscation of all debts due to Northern
men for goods had and received. Talk thus
seen these things and who will this day
make as many sacrifices for the peace and
honor of the South ms the best Southerner
among you. If we must be enemies, let us
be mcn, and fight it out as we propose to-
day, and not deal in such hypocritical op-
peal TO God and humanity.
God will judges US in due time, and he
will pronounce whether it be more humane
to fight with town full of women and the
families of "brave people" at our back, or
to remove them in time TO places of safety
among their own friends and people.
am, very respectfully,
Your obedssnt servant,
(Signe6| w. T. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding.
Official copy :-(Signed) l.. NJ. DAYTON
Aid de Camp.