Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-29
LETTER FROM GEN. shEt'
maN TO THE REBEL HOOD.
ATLANTA, Sept. 10.

70 G4n. O. b, Hood
General II have the honor TO &C
knowledge the receipt of your letter o.
this date AT the hands OF Messrs, Ban
al Grew. conserving To the arrange
mem had proposed TO facilitate the
ran,nval south OF people OF Atlanta VINO
,,rocer 10 90 in that direction, en-
aicse Won a CODY OF my orders which
will, am satisfied, accomplish my par
pose perfectly .....,.,...s 40
unprecedented, and appeal to the DARK
history OF war for parallel act OF stuu'
led and uugeneroas cruelty. IL is not
nnnrpcedeuted for Gen. Johnston him,
self very wisely and properly removed
families all the way from Dalton down,
and | see no reason why Atlanta should
be excepted, Nor is IL necessary 10 APP
neal to the dark history OF war when
recent and modern examples are SO
handy. You yourself burned dwelling
houses along your parapet ana
i have seen to-day fifty houses that
you have rendered uninhabitable be-
cause they stood in the way of your
forts cannon. You defended Atlanta on
cannon shot, and many musket shot
from our line of investments that over
shot their mark went into the habita-
lions of women and children. Gen.
Hardee did the same at 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 occurrance; and could go
on and enumerate hundred of Others,
and challenge any fair man to judge
which Of us has heart of pity for the
families of brave people. l say it is
kindness to those families of Atlanta to
remove them now at once from scenes
that women and children should not
be exposed to, and brave people should
scorn to commit their wives and chill
dren to rude barbarians, who thus, as
you say, violate laws of war as illustra-
ted in the dark pages of its history. In
the name of common sense / ask you not
to appeal to just God in such a sacri
ligious manner. You who in the midst
of peace and prosperity have plunged a
nation into civil war-dark and cruel
war-who dared and badgered us to bat
tie, insulted our flag, seized our arse
nails and forts that were left in the hon
orable custody of peaceful ordinance ser
geants, seized and made prisoners Of war
the very garrisons sent 10 protect your
people against negroes and Indians long
before any overt act was committed by
the "to you, hateful Lincoln" You
tried 10 force Kentucky and Missouri
into the rebellion in spite of themselves,
classifying the vote of Louisiana, turned
loose your privateers TO plumber unarm'
ed ships, expelled Union families by
thousands, burned their houses and de
clared by an act Of your Congress con-
fiscation Of all debts due northern men
for goods had and received talk this tx
the marines but not to me who have
seen these things and who will this
day make as much sacrifice for the peace
and honor of the South rs the best born
Southerner among you. If we must b'
enemies, let us be men and fight it on
as we propose to do, and not deal il
such hypocritical appeals to God ant
humanity God will judge u:
in due time, aud He viii
pronounce whether 1t be more human,
to fight with town full of women ant
the families of brave people at GU
back, or to remove them in time t.
places of safety among their own friend
and people. t~
am, very respectfully, ..-
-.. Your obedient servt,
-.. ...-r IN er. W. L. SHERMAN.