The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-28

HEADQUARTERS IN TIE FIELD, Feb. 27,
1865-Msjor Gen. Sherman, U. S. Army.
General: Your communication OF the
24th inst, reached me to. day. To it you
state that it has been officially reported
that your foraging parties We're murdered
after capture, and you 90 on to say that
you had ''ordered similar number of
prisoners in our hands to be disposed OF
in like manner" That is to say, you
have ordered number of Confederates
to he murdered.
=. You characterize your order in proper
terms, for the public voics even in your
own country, where ito seldom dalcs TO
express itself in .vindication OF truth
honor or justice, will surely agree with
me in pronouncing you guilty OF murder
il carried cut. -. ..Ir--:i.,
Before ,disniissing this portion of>your
letter. be. z toaRssuke xiVeslla1. r-eyaAss
of niue murdered -Uy you, j .s5all
have executed at once, two. of yours. Civ.
ing in allcaseEf preference 10 amy officers
who maybe in my hands, :, @~
In reference to the STA. ement you max e
regarding the death OF your toragers, I
have only to say that know nothing Of
tuitt HO GWEN ny lhO hut uOTILOo
the killing ot prisoners atter capture, and
that do not believe that my men killed
any Of yours except under circumstances
in which it WIS perfectly legitimate and
proper they should xiii them. -, =
1t is part Of the Fystem OF thieves
whom you designate as your forayers, to
fire the dwellings OF those citizens whom
they have robbed. @
TO check this inhuman system, which
is justly expected 10y every civilized ma
,ion, have directed my men to shoot
Il Jwn all your men WHO are caught burn-
ing houses. This order shall remain Ia
ioice M long as you disgrace the profess
sion of arms by allowing your men TO de-
strny private dwellings. ..s...
You cay that cannot Of course.uues.
zion your right 10 forage on the country
1T u right as old ss history" do not
question this right. But there is right
older even than this, ind more innlien.
able-the right tlrat every man hMs TO d".
fend his home, and TO protect those who
are dependent upon him. And from my
heart l wish that every old man and boy
in my country who can fire gun, would
shoot downras he would wild beast,
the men who are desolating their land
burning their houses, and insulting their
women. ~.
You are particular in defining and
olai ming "war rights" May ask il you
enumefate among them the right to fire
upon a defenceless city without notice !;
10 burn that city TO the ground alter IL
had been surrendered by the authorities
who claimed, though in vain, that pro.
lection which is always accorded in. civil.
lied warfare to non-combatants; to- fire
the dwelling houses of c,tinens. .aiIer-J Joh-
biug them, and 'perpefrating even darker
crimes than theseAorines loo black t.
be mentioned ,.S- 49, -'-'s
+. You have permitted, II you have NOT
endorsed, the commission Of those often
ces against humanity and the rules OF
war. tt.' -. ~. -.r -.
You fred'into the city Of Columbia
without word OF warning. Amer its
surrender by the mayor, who demanded
protection 10 private property, you laid
the whole city in 'asheS, leaving amid it's
ruins thousands Of old men.a and helpless
women and children, who nre likely Ia
perish OF starvation and exposure. Your
line of march can bo traced by the lurid
light of burning houses, and i'll more than
one household there is an agony far
more bitter than that of death.
The Indian scalped his victim regard
less OF sex or age, but with oil his barbar
ity, he always respected the persons ol
his female captives. Your soldiers, more
savage than the Indian, insult those
whose natural protectors are absent.
In. conclusion, havs only TO request
that whenever you have any d my men
disposed cf" or "murdertd," for the
terms appear 10 be synonymous with you.
you will let me b, ar OF IL, in order that
mHy know what action to tako in the
matter. In the mcantime shall hold
iiity-six Of your men ~ hostages for~those
whom you have ordered 10 be executed.
lam yours. etc.
WADE HAEPToN, Lieut.. Gen.
Official; Jno. N. OLey, a. A. Gen.. :.