The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-15
THE sHERMAI-HALLECK MBRoeIfo.
Halleck's Reply to Sherman's
Report.
He Justi0os Himself and Throws the
Responsibility Of His Actions
Upon General Grant.

Upon General Grant
General Stontman Considers that Sherman
Has Done Him Great Injustice,
As.. &c., As.
WASHINGTON, June II, 1885,
The following letter from General Halleck and tele
gram from General stonsman 70 Secretary Stanton In
rsfsrencs to General shsrmans report have just been
made public:-
oENERAL HALLEcK's LETrIR.
HlADouARTrRs, Military DIvmoN OF TEE JAns
RICHMOND, Va, June 1895. J
en-I have Just received tho Army and Navy 0assts
Of Nay 80, containing otneis publication Of Major
General shermans letters Of May and 90 with other
papers on tho sams subject parts Of which had been
previously published In the newspaper In these let
tors and papers General Sherman made statements
and reflections my ooal conduct which incorrect
and entirely unjustihed by the facts Of the case
FYr*-He charges that encroached upon his military
command by directing portion Of my troops to march
upon Greensboro In North Carolina BY direction of the
President WIS, the 10th Of April last assigned to
tho " command Of the military division of the James,
which included such parts Of North Carolina not
occupied BY the command Of Major General Sherman"
Al the time my troops were ordered 10 Greensboro,
General sherman'B troops did not occupy that part Of
North Carolina II occupied by tho enemy, and
consequently within my command defined by General
Orders No II Of the War Department But whether or
not Greensboro any part Of North Carolina my
command, General shermans remarks equally with
out justification
On the 22d OF April Lieutenant General Grant notified
me that shermans arrangements had been dsapproved
and orders gwen to hostes and directed me
TO my troops Danve and Greensboro precisely
did them there TO await his further orders Ny
instructions to Generals Meade, Sheridan and Wright
such instructions General Grant had directed
me TO give Tho offence, whatever he may please
call It, any there was Of marching my troops within
territory claimed by General Sherman was not mine but
General Grants and all the abuse which he directed
upon for that act must fall upon the General in Chief
Sscond-Gencral Sherman charges that by marching
my troops into North Carolina violated his truce which
he bound To enforce ut the Of many lives
by collision of our respective armies General sher
man had never scnt mo his rucc. had Il,
and did not know its terms conditions only knew
that his truce arrangement whaovcr It had been
disapproved and set aside by tho President, and
General Grant, In ordering the movement Of my troops,
simply notified OF this fact and of the Of
Titles. Even II Shermans truce had been binding
| me, which it was not ! had NO knowledge Of
strange that should to bind by conditions
Of the existence Of which was ignorant and OF which
he had taken TO inform me; but even had
known them could have ac,sd otherwise than I
did simply carried out the orders Of my superior
General Sherman was under the circumstances justified
in stopping the commands Of General Sheridan and
Wright the ihsr Of sh: sscGae
man or upon General Grant; for simply obeycd
orders OF the latter In regard to those movements.
General Sherman reflects for going In person
to violate rs ho is pleased to call H. truce which he
bound in honor 70 defend and maintain oven at tho
the troops which i sent into North Carolina In reply
70 this can only say that not ordered 20 with
those troops but to send them under their
to certain points, there await further orders from
Lieutenant General Grant, precisely as directed The
troops were mostly selected by General Grant, not by
| me; and as he had commanded them for n year lie
probably know something Of their capacity for march
ing and whether or not they would march their legs or
| to catch the treasure for their own use.
| Thbd-Agan General Sherman complains that my
orders Of April 2o TO push forward against Johnston
army, were given at the very time knew that army
was sucndcring TO him. In making this statement he
| forgots time and circumstances He must have known
that did not have, and could not possibly have had
that time any official information OF arrange
ments between him and Johnston for the surrender OF
| the attsr's army. Neither General sherman any
otherwise than by sea, which would have required
raj days. only knew from General Grant that Sher
mans arrangements had been dsapprovcd, that
had boen given TO resume hostilities and that was
directed by him TO push forward my troops TO Greens
boro, whero they would receive further orders. All
other Information from North Carolina from rebel
| sources.
FourIt--The burden Of General sherman's complaint
this subject that ordered Generals sheridan and
Wright push forward their troops directed by Gene
raj Grant regardless OF any orders from any except
Of nv instructions from Gensr Grant fe had no,i%ea
that orders had been given TO resume hostcs, and
had directed TO send certain troops TO Greensboro TO
await his curther orders Az these troops approach
the boundaries Of North Carolina Johnston Beaurcgard
and other rebel officers tried the alleged grounds
| dcrcd by General Grant when Informed Or this d.
| rected my officers 10 execute the commands which
from any one except General Grant himself respect
fully submit tfat could not have done less without
Flfl--General sherman sneers at my sending troops
from the direction Of Burkesye and Danvillc against
Davis in North Carolina, as hardly worthy OF my mill
ary education and genius However ridiculous General
| sherman may consider these movements they we're
| made precisely as General Grant had directed them.
Sirtt-He complains that did not notify him In
gard TO Davis and his stolen treasure that
| had communication open TO hun. Ny most direct
way Of communication with him through the depart
ment In Washington and sent all Information 10 the
department NJ II was received However absurd
General Sherman may have considered the information,
given by some OF the most respectable reliable
| business men 10 Richmond, through gentleman whose
character and position would prevent from pronounc
nstion. al don't believe word or Tho treasure story
Stnh-In order 10 sustain his position that the
men Of my troops ordered by General Grant were In
violation Of his truce which was bound 70 obey,
without knowing ts terms and that lac would have been
justified resist the cost OF many lives General
Sherman refers 10 chapter Of International law His
reference is most pointedy against his positions and
doctrines and the given In illustration In section
four was one OF which General sherman wss personally
cognixant In that case subordinate commander re-
fused 70 be bound by truce OF his superior command
ing another department. General Sherman was not even
my superior Ia rank contend that oil my orders were
justnabe by the laws Of and military usage II
| they had not been directed by superior authority
| Eightt-General sherman says that General Grant
"rcsched the Chesapeake In time 10 counerrnand Gen.
Hacck's orders and prevent his violating my truce.
This true General Grant neither disapproved
countermanded any order " mine there that
time any II had ceascd by General Grants orders
70 resume hosies, and the subsequent surrender Of
Johnstons army, Of which he then notified me- and
called part Of the troops which he bad directed 10
| sand 10 Danvills and Greensboro.
N,~th-Thsrs 10 but other point IN General shsr
mans comp Amt that deem II necessary TO notice
refer 70 the suggestion made 70 In regard 10 the or
der 10 Generals Thomas Wilson for preventing the
escape Of Davis and his Cabinet Although these oficc
were under the nominal command Of General Sherman,
yet after he left Atlanta thoy received their Instructions
and orders from yourself and General Grant direct moi
through General sherman. This IL recognized and pro
vded FOR by the regulations OF the War Department. and