Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
TIE ExIED PEOPLE OF ATLANTA.
REPLY OF GEN. SHERMAN.

We published ou Friday last petition to Gen. Sherman
from the Mayor and two Councmeu Of the city of Atlanta
(Georgs requesting revocation or modification OF his
order for the removal of the inhabitants of the city Since
then have received the reply Gen Shsrmao deuyng
the request for stated in hs letter which we
here insert:
Headquarters Military Division
Of the Mississippi IN the Field
atlanta, September IL, 1854
James M. Calhoun, Mayor, E. E. Rawson and y. G. Wells
representing City Council Of Atlanta
GENTLEMEN: have your letter Of the 18th, in the ma
habtans from Atlanta have read it carefully, aud give
full credit your statements Of the distress that will be
occssoned by it, aud yet shall not revoke my order sim
ply because my orders not designed to meet the hui
antes Of the case but to prepare for the future struggles
in which millions, yea hundreds of millions of good people
outside of Atlanta have deep interest We must have
peace not only 10 Atlanta but in all America To secure
this we stop the that desoiates once
happy and favored country To stop defeat
the rebel armies that arrayed against the laws and
Constitution which all must respect and obey TO defeat
these armies must prepare the way TO reach them Ia
their recesse provided with the and instruments
which enable us to accomplish our purpose
Now, know the vndctive nature Of our enemy, and
that we may have many years of military operations from
this quarter and therefore deem it wise and prudent to
prepare in time. The of Atlanta for wsrke purposes
inconsistent with its character az home for families
There will be manufactures commerce, agriculture
here for the maintenance of families and later
will compel the inhabitants to Why notgo now,
when all the arrangements completed for the transfer
instead of waiting till the plunging shot OF contenfing
will the Of the past month"; Of course
do not apprehend such thing at this moment but you
do not suppose that this army will be here till the war
over9 cannot discuss this subj with you fary be-
impart to you what propose to do, but
assert that ary plans make 1t necessary or tne ID
habitants to 60 away and only renew my offer Of
services to make their exodus IN direction a easy ana
comfortable possible.
You cannot qualify war in harsher term: than will
War is cruelty and you cannot refine t and those who
brought war on our country deserve all the ana
maedictions people pour out know had no hand
in making this war; ard know will make more saccea
than any Of you to peace But you cannot have
peace and division of our country the United States
submits to division it will not stop but will 60 on
till reap the fate of Mexico which eternal war The
United States does and must assert its authority
it has power; if it reaxes one bit to pressure IT gone
and know that such is not the national feeling This
feeling various shapes but always comes back to
that of Union Once admit the Union once more ackoow
ledge the suhortY of the National Government aud in
stead devoDg houses and streets and roads to the
dread uses of war; aud this army become at your
protectors and supporters shielding from danger let
it from what quarter it may know that few In
dduas cannot resist torrent Of error and passion such
has swept the South into rebellion but you can point
out so that may know those who desire government
and those who insist on war and its desolation.
You might as we'll appeal against the thunderstorm
against these terrible bardshps of They are inev
table and the only way the people of Atlanta can hope
to live in peace and quiet at home 10 to stop this
war which alone be done Dy admitting that it began
n error and perpetuated in pride We don't want your
negroes your horses your houses or your land
any thing You have but DO want aud will have just
obedience to the laws of the United States That will
have aud it involves the destruction of your improve
ments cannot help it.
You have heretofore read public sentiment in your
papers, that live by fasehood and excitement and the
quicker you seek for truth in other the better tor
you repeat then that by the original compact of Gov
eminent the United States had certain rights in Georgia
which have never been renQuished, and never will be;
that the South began by sezDg forts arsenas mnts
custom houses &c 60 long before Mr.. Lincoln was in
staed and before the South had ot little OF pro-
vocation / myself have in Missouri Kentucky Ten
nessee and Mississippi hundreds and thousands of women
and children fleeing from your armies and desperadoes,
hungry and with bleeding feet In Memphis Vicksburg,
and Mississippi fed thousands upon thousands of the
families of rebel soldiers lett hands, and whom
could not see stsrve. Now that war comes home to
you you feel very dren you deprecae it's horrors but
did not feel them when you sent carloads of soldiers and
ammunition and moulded shell and shot to carry war into
Kentucky aud Tennessee and desoate the homes of hun
dred and thousands of good people who only asked 10 live
peace their old homes and under the Government of
their inheritance. But these comparisons are idle.
want peace and believe it only be reached through
Union and war, and will conduct war purely with
view to perfect and early But my dear srs,
when that peace does come, you may call for any
thing Then will share with the last cracker aud
watch with you to shield your homes and families against
danger from every quarter Now you must Co. and take
with you the old and eebe feed and them, and
build Tor them in quiet places proper habitaons to
shield them against the weather until the mad passions of
cecil down. and allow the Union and peace
to settle your old homes at Atlanta.
Yours, in haste,
w. I. SHERMAN Major General.