Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-06-20
Letter from Gen. Halleck.
HIS REPLY TO GEN. sHERMAN's
STRUCTURES.
STATEMENT FROM GEN, sToNEMAN.
hEADQ'ns MIL. DIV. OF the JAMRs,
RfpHMoND Va lima 7 1871

may ahu ~, with other papers on the same
SUBJECT parts Of which had been previously
puolshed in the newspapers. In these letters
and papers General Sherman has made state.
ments and reflections on my official conduc
which are incorrect, and entirely uniustfed by
the facts Of the case.
l, lie charges that | enoroached upon his
ml'i'ary command, by directing portion OF my
troops to march upon Greensborough in North
Carolina.
BY direction Of the President, 1 was, on the
lYth Of April last, assigned to the "commani
OF the Military Division Of the James, which
included such pnrts of North Carolina as were
not occupied by the command Of Major General
sherman" AT the time my troops were ordered
to Greensborough, General Shermau's troops
did not occupy that part Of North Carolina; II
was occupied by the enemy, and consequently
within my command, as defined by General
Orders, No. II, of the War Department.
But whether or not Greenshorough, or any
part OF North Carolina, was in my command,
General Sherman's remarks are equally without
Justification. On the 22I of April Lieutenant
General Grant notified me that Sherman's ar
rangements had been disapproyed, and orders
given to resume hosulities, and directed me to
move my troops on Danville aud Greensborough,
precisely as did move them, there to await his
further orders. My instructions to Generals
Meade, Sheridan, and Wright we're Just such
instructions as General Grant had directed me
TO give. The offence, or whatever he may
please to call it, if any there was, of marching
my troops within territory claimed by General
Sherman, was not mine, but General Grants
aud oil the abuse which he has directed upon
me for that act must fall upon the General in
Chief
General Sherman charges that by marching
my troops into North Carolina | violated his
truce, which he was bound to enforce even at
the cost Of many lives by collision Of our re
spective armies.
General Sherman had never sent me his truce
l had never seen it; and did not know Its terms
or conditions. / only knew that his truce or
'aIraugement," whatever it was, had been die
approved and set aside by the President; Hnd
General Grant, in ordering the movement Of my
troops, simply notified me of this fact, and Of
the renewal Of hostilties. Even il Sherman's 8
truce had been binding on me, which it was not
| had no knowledge Of the clause relating to
iorty-eight hours notice. 1t is strange that he
should seek to bind me by conditions of the
existence Of which | was Ignorant and Of which
he had taken no measures to inform me. But
even had known them, ] could not have acted
otherwise than l.did. simply carried out the
orders Of my superior officer, who had seen the
! truce and knew its terms. If General Sherman
was, under the circumstances, justified in
stopping the movements of my troops, even by
destroying the commands Of General Sheridan
and General Wright, the responsibility Of this
sacrifice of human life must have rested either
upon General Sherman or upon General Grant,
for simply obeyed the orders Of the latter 10
regard tO these movements.
General Sherman reflects on me for not going
in person to violate, as he pleased to call it, a
truce which he "was bound in honor to defend
aud maintain" "eyen Ut the cost OF many
lives" and upon the marching powers of the
troops which | sent into North Carolina. Iu
reply to this l can only say that | was not Or
dered TO 60 with these troops, but to send them,
under their commanders, TO certain points,
there to await further orders from Lieutenant
General Grant, precisely as l directed The
troops were mostly selected by General Grant,
not by me aud as he had commanded them for 4
year, he probably knew something of their
capacity for marching, and whether or not they
would "merch their legs off to catch the trea-
sure for heT own use."
Q. Again, General Sherman complains that
my orders Of April 20. to push forward against
Johnstons army, were given at the very time
knew that that army was surreudering 10 him.
In making this statement, he forgeiu time and
circumstances. He must have known that did
not have, aud could not possibly have had, OF
that time, any official information of any new
"arrangements" between him and Johnston for
the surrender Of the latter's army. Neither
General Sherman nor any one else could have
sent me such official information otherwise than
by sea, which would have required several days.
| only knew from General Grant that Sherman s
arrangements" had been disapproved that
orders had been given to resume hostilities, and
that l was directed by him to push forward my
troops to 0reensborough, where they would re-
ceive further orders. All other information from
North Carolina came from rebel sources.
4 The burden Of General Sherman's com.
plant on this subject lie, that ordered Genera |.
Sheridan and Wright to push forward their
troops as directed by General Grant, "regard-
less of any orders from any one except General
Grant" This was simply carrying out the
spirit Of my instructions from General Grant.
He had notified me that orders had been given
to resume hostllities, and had directed me to
send certain troops 10 Greensborough to await
his further orders As these troops approached
the boundaries of North Carona, Johnston,
Beauregard, and other rebel officers tried, on the
alleged grounds of arrangements with Sherman.
to stop the movement ordered by General Grant
When informed Of this, directed nv officers To
execute the commands which General Grant
had given to me, regardless Of orders from auy
one except General Grant himself | respect.
fully submit that could not have done less
without ntglecting my duty.
I BHQllnU
troops from the direction of Burkesyille nnd
Danyille against Davis in North Caroliua as
''hardly worthy Uf' my "mlltary education aud
genius" However ridiculous General Sherman
may consider these movements, they we're made
precisely as Gen. Grant had directed them,
IT, He complains that did not notify him in
regard to Davis and his stolen treasure. For
the reason that had no communication omen
10 MN. My most direct way Of communication
with him was through the Department at Wash.
ington' and sent all information to the Depart
ment as soon as il was receiyrd Ues W.
"absuri' General Sherr"a .4Ay nave ounaid
cred the information, il was given by some Of
tue most respectable and reliable business men
i ~ i-t i'1i lni a5n gentleman whose char
acter and position would prevent me from pro-
nouuoing his statements 'absurd,n and of SAYING.
without examination, ~ don't believe word Of
tue treasure story"
( Z. In order to sustain his position that the
movements Of my troops, ordered by General
Grant, were in violation of his truce, which
was bound to observe even without knowipe i,s
terms, aud that he would have been justified 10
resist "eVen at the cost Of many lives. j." General
Sherman refers TO a chapter Of International
Law. His reference is most pointedly against
his positions and doctrines aud the case given
10 Illustration, in section four, was one of which
9eneral Sherman was personally cognizant,
Ia that case subordinate commander refused
to be bound BY truce OF his superior, commend
lng apother department General Sherman was
NOT even my superior in rank, / contend that
All my orders were justifable by the laws of
war ana military usage, even if they had not
peeu directed by superior authority.
o. Heneral Sherman says that General Grant
reached the Chesapeake in time to couniermand
1eneral Haeck's orders and prevent his vic.
leung my truce" This is not true. General
Grant neither disapproved nor countermanded
any orders Of mine, nor was there at that time
nnY lrnGR. IL had nnnanh h.. Ga.a.al c.-.-.t-