The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-22

Gen. Sherman's Reply to Gen. Hood,
WASHINGTON. Sept VI.
The following is the reply of Gen. Sherman
to Gen. Hoods charge OF studied and ungen-
erous cruelty, which was received in Wash
ington to-day:
To Gen. j. r. Hood .--General-I have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt Of your let
Ter oil this date at the hapds Of Messrs. Ball
and Orr, consenting to the arrangements l
have proposed TO facilitate the removal South
OF the people OF Atlanta who prefer to 90 Ia
that direction. | enclose you copy of INV
orders, which will, am satisfied, accomplish
my purpose perfectly. You style The measure
proposed unprecedented" and appeal 10 The
dark history OF the war for It's parallel as an
act OF STUDIED AID ungenerous eruelty,n IL
is not unprecedented, for Gen. johnson hin.
self very wisely aud properly removed fami-
lies all the way ffom Dalton down, and see
no reason why Atlanta should be excepted.
Nor is IL necessary to appeal to the dark his
tory Of war when recent and modern exam
pies are SO handy, You yourself burned
dwellingrhouses along your parapet, and /
nave seen day atty houses. that sou have
rendered uninhabitabie because they stood In
the way Of your forts and men. You defend
ed Atlanta on line SO close TO tbs town that
every cannon shot and many musket shots
from our line Of investments that oyershot
their marx went into habiiations OF women
and children Gen. Hardee did the same at
Jonesboro, and Gen. Johnston did the same
last summer at jackson, Miss. have not sc-
cused you of hearlless cruelty, but merely in
stance thQse cases OF very recent occurrence,
and could 60 on and enumerate hundreds OF
others, and challenge any fair man TO Judge
which Of us has heart OF pity for the fami-
lies Of brave people.
SAY 1t is kndless 70 these families OF At
lanta 70 remove them at once from scenes that
women and children should not be exposed
TO, and brave people should scorn TO commit
their wives and children TO 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 not
to appeal To just God In such sacrelIgious
manner. You, who In the uidst OF peace and
prosperity, have pluudered nation into civil
war dark and cruel-you who dared and badg-
cred US to battle, insulied our flag. seized our
arsenais and forts that were left in the honor
able custody of peaceful ordnance sergeants,
seized and made prisoners OF war the very
garrisons sent TO protect your people against
negroes and Indians long before any overt act
was committed by the to you hateful Lincoln
Government, tried TO force Kentucky and
Missouri into rebellion spite OF themselves,
falsfed the vote Of Louisiana, turned loose
your privateers to plumber unarmed ships, ex-
PEELED Union families by thousands, burned
their houses, and declared by an act OF your
Congress the connscation Of all debts due
Northern men fos goods and and received.
| Talk thus to the marines but not to me, who
have seen these things. and who will this day
make as much sacrifice Tor the peace and
honor Of the South as the best born South
erner among you. II we must be enemies let
us be men and fight 1t out as VIC propose to-
day. and not deal In such hypocriilcai appeals
to God and humanity. God will judge us In
due time, and be viii pronounce whether 1t be
| more human to night with town full of wo.
men and the families of brave people, al
our back, or to remove them In time to places
Of safety among their friends and people.
am, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
tsignedl w. 7. SHERMAN.