Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-09-28
GEN. sHERMAN's CRUEL" ORDER.

UhNt - Ol - ILL ODObQs
After Gen Sherman had taken full pos
session of Atlanta he issued an order, dI-
reeting all non-combitants who still consider
themselves 'Confederates, to go south
ward into Hoods lines, with all their move
able effects, including so much of the negro
property as may be disposed to go with
the other chattels-in other words, obliging
the Rebel citizens of Atlanta, who, if per-
mitted TO remain would be so many spies,
to 90 into jeff Davis dominions, aud thus
getting rid of the responsibility of feeding
them. to the special and timely relief OF
Hoods commissariat Gen. Sherman has
effected an armistice of ten days with Gen.
Hood, for the purpose of carrying the or
der into effect. The latter, whilst accept
ing or the temporary armIstlce, pronounceS,
the order unprecedented, and the act as one
of studied and ungenerous cruelty. To this
charge, Gen. Sherman replies in the follow
| ing pointed manner =
HEADQUARTERs MILITARY DIVISION OF \
THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD,
ATLANTA, September 10TH 1861.
GENERAL L. b. HOOP, Commanding Ar
my OF the Tennessee, Confederate Army
General have the honor TO acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of this date at the
! hands of Messrs Ball and Crew, consenting
| to the arrangements, | had proposed to IA
| eilitate removal south those of Atlanta who
/ prefer to go in that direction | enclose you
a copy of my orders, which will, [ am salts
| fed, accomplish my purpose perfectly. You
| style the measures proposed unprecedented,
and appeal to the dark history of war for a
parallel as an act studied and ungenerous
| cruelty. 1t is not unprecedented, for Gen
eral Johnston himself very wisely and prop
erly removed the families all the way from
! Dalton down, and | see no reason why At
| lanta should be excepted Nor is it neces-
when recent and modern examples are so
handy Iou yourself burned houses along
your parapet, and | have seen to-day fifty
| houses that you have rendered uninhabit;.-
! bic because they stood IN the way OF your
| forts and men. You defended Atlanta on a
! line SO close to the 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,
| Gen Hardee did the same at j ,jonesboro, and
Gen Johnston, did the same last summer
at Jackson, Miss [ have not accused you
of heartless cruelty, but merely instance
those cases Of very recent occurrence and
could go on and enumerate hundreds Of 9th
ers, and challenge any fair man to judge
| which n us has the heart OF pity for the
| families OF brave people. say it is Il
| kindness 10 these families Of Atlanta to re
| move them now at once from scenes that
women and children shsuld' not be exposed
| 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 history. In the name of common sense,
| | ask you MOTTO appeal to Just God in such
"A sacreligiouS manner. 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 insul-
| ted our flag, seized our arsenas anu forts
! that were left in the honorable custody of, a
| peaceful ordnance sergeant, seize and made
| prisoners of war the very garrisons sent to
protect your people against negroes and In
! dlans, long before any overt act was commit
| ted by the Ito YOU hateful Lincoln govern
ment, tried to force Kentucky and Missouri
into the rebellion in spite Of Themselves, fall
| slfed the vote Of Louisiana, turned loose
| your prlvateers to plunder unarmed ships.
| expelled Union families by the thousand,
/ burned their houses, and declared by act ei
| your Congress the confScation of all the
! debts due Northern men for goods had and
received. Tell this to the marines but Hat
/ to 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 Southerner among you. If we must
be enemies, let us be men and fight it out,
as we propose to-day, and not deal in such
hypocriticaI appeals to God and humanity
| God will judge US in due time-He viii pro-
nounce whether it be more humble to fight
with town full Of women and the families
Of a brave people at our back, or to remove
them in time to places of safety among then
own friends and people. | am, very respect
fully, your obedient servant -a-
w. T. SHERMAN
Major-General Commanding 80