Litchfield enquirer., 1864-09-29
CORRESPONDENCE OF GEN. SHERMAN
 WITH THE CITY AUTHORITIES.

CORRESPONDENCE OF GEN. SHERMAN WITH THE CITY AUTHORITIES. A REFUSAL TO ALLOW THE WOMEN AND oHfIBHRH
 TO REMAIN.
 From the LouisUale Journal. Sept. 11.
 We have letters from Atlanta to the l2Fff inst. The city was full of hustle and confusion as the people were making their preparations to obey the order of Gen. Sherman, which coms mands them to leave the place. The streets ,esemble those of New York on the. first of May. when every man who does not own h is residence deems it his duty to move. in obedi. ence to some old legend of the Knickefboek. CTS. MT. J. B Berry sends to us the following petition of the city of Atlanta to Gen. Sherman asking bim to change or modify the expulsion.
 THE AUTHORITIES TO GEN. SHERMAN. ATLANTA, GA. Sept. II. 1864. Maior General W. T. SHERMAN-Sir: Tho undersigned, Mayor and two members of Council for the city of Atlanta, for the tine being the only legal organ of the people of said city to express their wants and wishea ask leave most earnestly hut respe ctfuIly to netition you to reconsider the order requiring them to leave Atlanta. At first view. it struck Hs that the measure would involve extraordina- " hard ship and loss but since we have seen the practical execution oft. go far as it has progressed, and the individual condition of many of the people. and heard the statements az to the inc ,nveniences. los. and suffering intending it. we are satisfied that the amount of it will involve in the aggregate, consequeR. ces appalling and heart-rendin0.
 Many poor woman are in advanced state or pregnacy others having young children. whoaa husbands for the greater part. are either 10 tno army. prisoners or dead. Some say ." have such one sick at my houss who will wait on them when I am gone 2" Others say: "What are we to do we have no house to go to, and no means to bnv build or rent any no parents, relatives or friends to go to-" Anotls CT says I will try and take this or thae article of property hut such and such things must leave behind, though need them much We reply to them Gen. sherman VII carry your property to Rough and Ready, ana to~n Gen. Hood will take it thence on:" And they will reply to that: c. But want to leave the railroad at sucl place. and cannot ger conveyance from thence on."
 We only refer to a few facts to illustrate, tn part, how this measure will operate in practice" As you advanced, the people north ot us ien back, and before your arrival here large DOT .ion of the people here had retired south e0 that the country south of this is already crowd. ed and without sufficient houses to acelmmo. date the people, and we are informed thae many are now staying in churches and other outbuildings. This heinz so. how ist possis ble for tho people still here (moatly women en9 children) to ind shelter and how can they live through the Winter in the woods; Ne' shelter or subsstcnce in the midst of stran- gers who know them not, and without the pow CT to assist them much if they were willing to- do SO?
 This is but feeble picture of the consequen~ ces of this measure. You knowtthe woe, the horror, and the suffering cannot be descrios0 by words. Imagination can only conceive 't and we ask you to take these things into con. sideration. We know your mind and time are continually occupied with the duties ot yoa command. which almost deters us from askin your attention to the matter, buy tnonens " might be that you had not considered tne sup feet in all of it's awful consequences, ana tn,sr on reflection, you, VI hope, would DO. mate this people an exception to aal manKinu, tIor we know of no such instance ever naving DC cnrred- not in the United States. Ane what has this helpless people done tnss ssey should be driven from their homes, 70 "anLst as strangers, outcasts and exiles, and to suD- sist on charity?
 We do not know as yet the number of peo- = pie still here. Of those who are here c respec- table number if allowed to remain ct homet could subsist for several months without assie- tance; and respectable number for much longer time. ard who might not need asslst-' ance at any time.
 In conclusion, we must earnestly and SOL emnly petition you to reconsider this oroer, or modify it and suffer this unfortunate people sO' remain at home and enjoy what little means they have. Respectfully submitted,
 JAMES M. CALHOUN. Mayor. | E. E. RAwsoN, s. c. WELLS. OounCilmen. | - '~-- GEN. sdRRxAN's REPLY. | HpoRs. MILITARY DIVISION or THE MIssrs- | sppI, IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GA, l Sept.l2, 1864. ), JAMES NJ. CALHOUN, Mayor. B. B. RAwsoE aud
 s. 0. WELLS, represesstifg CitB Council ot | AtlantG.
 GENTLEMEN have your letter Of the llth in the nature of petition 10 revoke ny or- ders removing all the inhabitants from Ahanta| have read it carefully. and give full crsoit so your statements of the distress that VII pc oc- casioned by it, and yet shall not revoke ny or, der, simply because my orders are nos N oe.'suse = @ to meet the humanities of the case, pus .', T P.
 pare for the future struggles in which mllllCns. yea hundreds of millions ofgOod people oalslas of Atlanta have deep interest we mu,s have Peace. not only at Atlanta, put ,n als America. To secure this. we must stop the war that now desolates our once happy and favor- sd country. To stop war we must defeat the ebel armies that are arrayed against the laws and Constitution which all must respect and obsv. To defeat these armies we must prepare inc way to reach them in their recesss .. provi- de with the arms and instruments which ems ble us to accomplish our purpose. e.
 FfNow. I know the vindictive nature d our enemy, and that we may have many years ot military operations from this quarter, and tns,e fore deem it wise and prudent to prepare ln time. The use of Atlanta for waFlike pufposs es is inconsistent with it's character as Q nome for families. There will be no manuiactureSs commerce or agriculture here for the mainse.Ir, .r ance of families. and sooner or later want WIZ compel the inhabitants to go. Why not go now when all the arrangement are completes for the transfer, instead of waiting uh tne plunging shot of contending armies will renew the scene of the past month hi Of course % not apprehend any such thing at this momens. bnt You do not suppose that this army VII pe here till the war is over. l cannot diserss !els subject with you fairly, because cannot ... ins. ~ AA.A