Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-08-18
Causlic Letter from General
ShermanIO "a Federal ReCruit-
Ing Officer.

ShermantOa "a Federal ReCruit-
Ing Omcer.
The following letter from Gen. SHER-
MAN, will open the eyes of our people to
a fact of first importance, and one to
which we called their attention some time,
ago, to-wit: The impossibiiIRy Of filling
their gVotas by negro recruits enlisted IN
reJeli,ous States Department and Post
Commanders, have conscripted all the
available negroes, in those districts where
they were most numerous, until, as Gen
SHERMAN says, they are all either in one
army or the other,
Those, therefore, who have reposed up
on the idea of saving themselves with
their money, had better not trust to the
success of the negro speculation. Ii they
do, they will be deceived. The points re-
commended by SHERMAN for recruiting
depots, tells the whole story. If negroes
are TO be recruited at all, they must be
sought at points sOhere the federal army
has not yet penetrated! We agree with
SHERMAN, also, that this black republican
scheme Of filling the quotas with niggers,
Hessians, and scalawags, is not only cow
ardly, but it is unjust to the white Ameri-
can volunteers, who have thus far, mainly,
contended with the southern srmies--to
offer them now, the assistance Of such ma
terial as is contemplated, by those who
are depending on niggers. Sueh assist
anes amounts almost to a virtual abandon
ment both of them and the cause in which
they are engaged, and is, beside, an insult
of the gravest character 1t is Just wha
SHERMAN terms it, an ignominious "pead
ling off," upon the part of the war prose
cutionists, of the duties which they have
implicitly agreed, and which they ar,
in honor bound, to discharge themselves
Read the letter:
HEADQUARTERS military DIVISION OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, Is THE FIELD,
NEAR ATLANTA July 30
TO John A. Spooner Esq, Agent for tn
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Nash
VILE Tenn
SIR Yours from Chattanooga, July 29, i
received notifying me Of your appointment
by your State as Lieutenant Colonel and Pro
, vost Marshal of Georgia, ALABAMA, and Mis-
sissippi, under the act of Congress approved
July 4, 1864, 10 recruit volunteers to be cred
tied to the States respectively
On applying to General Webster, at Nash
vile, he will grant you a pass through ou
lines TO those States, and as have had con
siderable experience in those States, woult
suggest recruiting depots to be established a
Macon and Columbus, Miss Selma, Mont
: gomery, and Mobile, Ala, and Columbus
4. Miledgevile and Savannah Ga
do not see that the law restricts you L
black recruits, but you are at liberty to Co
isct white recruits, Also. Itis a waste Of tim
and money Ia open rendezvous in North-wes
! Georgia, for assure you have not seen a
, able-bodied man, black or white, there, fit for
soldier, who was not in this army OF the on
= opposed to
You speak Of the impression going abroa
that am opposed 10 the organisation Of co
{ oreG regiments
My opinions are usually very positive, an
, there is no reason why you should not know
them
Though entertaining profound reVerenc
! for our Congress, do doubt their wisdom i
. the passage Of this law
l. Because civilian agents about an arm
are a nuisance
2 The duty Of citizens TO fight for thei
country is too sacred to be peddled OF by buy
ing up the refuse from other States
3 II is unjust TO the brave soldiers an,
p volunteers who are fighting as those who CON
pose this army do, TO place them on a par wit
the class o. recruits you are after
The negro is in a transition state, an'
is not the equal Of the white man.
5. He is liberated from bondage BY act 0
war and the armies in the field are entitled
= to all bis assistance in labor and fighting, il
' addition to The proper quotns Of the States
= g. This bidding and bartering for recruits
r white and black, has delayed the reinforce
ment of our armies at the time when sue
r reinloreements would have enabled us I
I make our successes permanent
. T. The law is an experiment which, pend
= ing war, is unwise and unsafe, and has delay
ed the universal draft which / irmiy beiieg
. will beCome necessary to overcome the wid
spread resistance offered us; and l believe
also, the universal draft will be wise and ber
e fetal; for under: the Providence Of God i