Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-09-29
sIKERMAN TO HOOD.
4 Plthy Reply TO the Rebel Pro-
test Against Removing women
and Children from Atlanta.

WASHINGTON, Sept 81, 1864.
The following is the reply of Gen. Sher-
man TO Gen. Hoods charge Of Studied and
ungenersus cruelty" and which was receiv-
cd in Washington to-day:
Hno'ps MnIrAHY DIVISION OF THE Mtsnsfprf,
IN the FIELD
ATLANTA, GA, sept 10, 1864
Gen. ]. Il. Hoop, Commanding Army Of
the Tennessee, Confederate Army.
GENERAL: have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your letter Of this date
at the hands OF Messrs. Ball and Crew, con
eentins to the arrangements had proposed,
to facilitate the removal South the poo
pie Of Atlanta. who prefer to go in that di-
rection. i enclose you copy Of my or
dsrs, which will, am satisfied, accomplish
my purpose perfectly. You styla the meas
ures proposed Unprecedented" and appeal
to the dark history oil war for parallel as
en- act Of "stadied ungenerous cruelty" 1t
Is not unprecedented, for General Johnston
himself very wisely aud properly removed
the families oil the way from Dalton down,
and I sec No reason why Atlanta should be
excepted. Nor is it necessary to appeal to
the dark history Of war when recent and
modern examples are 50 handy. You,
yourself, burned dwelling houses along your
parspet, and have seen to-day fifty houses
that you have rendered uninhsbitable. be-
cause they stood in the way Of your forts
and men, You defended Atlanta on line
80 close to the town, that every cannon shot,
and many musket shots from cur line Of in-
vestments, that ovsrshot their mark, went
into the habitations Of women and children.
Gen. Hardee did the same at Jonesboro,
and Gen. Johnston did the same last sum.
mer at jackson, Miss have not accused
you OF hesrtless cruelty, but merely instance
those cases Of very recent occurrences, and
could 60 on and enumerate hundreds of
ethers, and challenge any fair man to Judge
which Of Us has the heart Of pity for the
families of brave people," say, it is a
kindness to these families of Atlanta to re-.
move them nov at once from scenes that
women aud children should not be exposed
TO- and the brave people should scorn ia
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 yon not to appeal TO just God
~ such asacreliglOus manner--you who, in
the midst Of peace aud prosperity, have
plunged nation into civil war, dark and
cruel war" who dared and badgered us to
battle, insulted our flag, seized our arsenals
and forts that were left in the honorable
custody off peaceful ordinance sergeant,
seized and made prisoners Of war the very
garrisons sent TO protect your people against
negroes aud Indians, long before any overt
act was committed by :he TO you" hateful
Lincoln Government, tried 10 force Ken.
tucky aud Missouri into the rebellion in spite
Of themselves, talsifed the vote of Louis
isna, turned loose your privaieers to. plum.
der unarmed ships, expelled Union familics
by the thousand, burned their houses, and
declared by act Of your Congress the confis-
cation OF all debts due Northern men for
goods had and received. Talk thus to the
marines but not to me, who have seen these
things, and will this day make as much sac
rifoe foI the peace and honor OF the South,
ss the best born Southerner among you. =
If We must be enemies, let us bs men. and
fight II out as we propose to-day, and not
deal in such bypocritical appeals 70 God
spd humanity. God will Judge US in due
lime. andBe will pronounce whether il be
mere humane to fight with town full Of
vemen, and the families ofa 'brase ps0-
pie as cur heslA. - 70 -ssmess thaH u