Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-11
Important letter from:Gen. sherman

We have gained possession Of the i'm.
portant letter published below, aud give
Il 10 our readers, who after psfusing il,
will know more Of the temper ana char,
arter Of the commander OF the Grand
Military Division Of the Mississippi than
they have kno=n heretofore. The letter
was not designed forpubIication, having
bean addressed to his Adjutan; General,
in reply TO certain interrogatories reIa.
tive to the course to ba pursued By sub
ordinate commanders Of military districts
toward disloyal Inhabitants We will
add that as We eonsider oru readers sen.
sible men and wonen, no comments are
necessary
H'DqRs DEPARTxESr OF TESSEssEg, ]
vieksburg January 3lst
mayor Il. n Saieger, A. 4 q Army Of
fhe 1enRessse, Hsmtsvilie;
DIAR SAvYER;-ln my former letter
have answered all your questions. save
one, and that relates to the treatment
Of inhabitants, known or suspected to be
hostile or "secesh. This is in truth the
most difficult business OF our army, as it
advances and occupies the Southern
country. Ii is almost impossible to lay
down rules, and ! invariably leave this
whole subject to the local commanders,
but am willing to give them the benefit
of my acquired knowledge and expert
ence.
In Europe, whence we derived our
principles Of war, as developed by their
histories, wars are between kings or ru-
lsFs, though hired armies, and not be-
tween peoples These remain, as it
we're, neutral, and sell their produce to
whatever army is in possession.
| Napoleon, when at war with Prussia,
Austrla, and Russia, bought forage and
provisions of the inhabitants, and eonse-
quently had an interest to protect farms
and factories which minisiered to bis
wAnts. In like manner, the allied ar
mics in France, could buy of the French
whatever they needed, the produce of the
soil or manufactures of the country
Therefore the rule was and is, that vars
are confined TO the armies, and should
not visit the homes Of families Of private
/ interests
But in other examples different rule
/ obtained the sanction 0fhistoricAl author
/ ity. I will only instance that, when in
the reign of William and Mary, The En-
| glish army occupied Ireland, then in =
state OF revolt, the inhabitants we're act
/ nally driven into foreign lands, and were
actually dispossessed Of their property
and q new population introduced To
/ this day large part ofthe north Of Ire
land is held BY the descendants of the
Scotch emigrants sent there BY William $
order aud an act of Parliament
The war which prevails in our land is
essentially q war Of races The South.
ern people entered into a clear compact
Of government, but still maintained q
species of seperate interests, history and
preiudices. These latter became strong
er, till they have led 10 a war, which has
developed the fruits Of the bitterest kind.
We Of the North are, beyond sll ques-
ton, right in our lawful cause but We are
not bound 10 ignore the fact that tie
people of the South have prejudices, which
form part of their nature, and which they
cannot throw off without an effort of res.
son or the slower process Of natural
change. Now the question arises, Should
we treat as absolute enemies all in the
South xho differ from us in opinion oI
prejudices--kilI or Danish themf Or
should We give them time to think, and
gradually change their conduct so as tt
conform to the new order Of things which
is slowly and gradually creeping int'
their country
When men take arms to resist oal
rightful authority, We srs compelled tc
|, use force, and cause all reason and argu
, ment cease while arms ara resorted to
, When provisions forage, horses, mules
/ wagons, etc. are used by our enemy, II i
i. clearly our duty and right 10 take them
: because, otherwise they might be use'
against Us
In Ike manner, all houses left yacsn