Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-08-19


the southern States to Gil northern quotas.
Fill the northern quotas at home, is bis ad-
vice, and leave the negro men in the slave
States to help the armies in the field, accord
to their ability, and as an addition to the
forces derived from other quarters.
Mr.. Spooner, the Massachusetts agent for
obtaining eolored recruits in Gen. Sherman's
Department, wrote to him for pass to the
recruiting field, when he received the follow
reply;
HEADo'Rs, MILITARY DIv. OF THE Miss,
IN the field near Atlanta, Ga,
July 80, 1864. )
John A. SpooHer, Esq, -fgeHt for the
Commonwealth Of -Hais., .Nashriile, Tenn;
Sir-Yours from Chattanooga, July 2sth,
is received, notifying me of your appointment by
your State as Lieut.. Colonel and Provost Mar
shall Of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, under
the act of Congress approved July 4, 1864, 10
recruit volunteers to be credited to the States
respectively.
On applying to Gen. Webster, at Nashville,
he will grant you pass through our lines to
experience in those States, would suggest re-
| cruitng depots TO be established At Macon and
| Columbus. Miss, Selma, Montgomery and No
| bile, Ala, and Columbus, Milledgeville and
/ Savannah, Ga.
| do not see that the law restricts you TO black
recruits, but you are at liberty to collect white
recruits, also. II is q waste Of time aud 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
l am opposed TO the organization Of colored
regiments.
My opinions are usually very positive, and
there is no reason why you should not know
them.
our Congress, | do doubt their wisdom in the
passage of this law
lst, Because civilian agents about an army
are nuisance.
"a, The duty Of citizens to fight for theil
country is too sacred a one to be peidled off by
buying up the refuse Of other STATES
81, Ii is unjust to the brave soldiers and vol
unteers who are fighting, as those who compos,
this army DO, 10 place them Oh par with th'
class Of recruits you are after
4th, The negro is in the transition state, and
Is not the equal Of the white man
9th, He i liberated from his bondage by act
Of war; and the armies in the field are entitled
70 al hrs assistance in labor and fighting. in al
1 iitiyR 10 the proper quotas OF the States.
9th, This bidding and bartering for recruits.
/ white and black, has delayed the reinforcement
I Of our armies at the times when such reinforce
/ meuts would have enabled US TO make our sue
/ cesses permanent.
-fh Tho Law L exua-1rucuf which
! pending war, is unwise and unsafe, and has de-
/ lsyed the universal drait which | firmly believe
| vii become necessary 10 overcome the wide
! spread RESISTANCE offered 10 u.s. and also believe
I the universal draft vii. be wise and beneficial ;
/ for, un1er the Providence Of Gcd il will separate
| the sheep from the goats, and demonstrate what
I citizens will fight for their country, and what
VIII only talk.
No one will infer from this that am not a
friend Of the negro as well as the white race.
contend that the treason and rebellion of the
master freed the slave; and the armies | have
: commanded have conducted 10 safe points more
negroes than those Of any other general officer
in the army; but prefer negroes for pioneers,
teamsters, cooks and servants, others gradually
to experiment in the art Of the soldier, be inning
with the duties Of local cirrs. IL. su-h ns Ne
had NJ Memphis, Fickshurs y tct' =. y = ,,i d.
| and Chattanooga; but would 10, 'i,is un the
poor race for too large proportion Of rs active.
athletic young men, for some must remain 10 seek
new homes and provide for the Old and young
the feeble and the helpless.
These are some Of my peculiar notions hut
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 yourself
am. &C.
(Signed) 7. W. SHERMAN,
Major General
Official COPY