Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-09
THE WAR ~ SOUTM CAROLINA.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GENERAL
SHERMAN AND GEN. HAMPTON.
HEADQ'Rs Mu'Y Div. OF THE Mss, }
In the Field, Feb. -, 1865.

Lieut.. Gen. Wade Hampton, Conmaaainy Caealry
Forces, c. 5. H.:
General: It is officially reported to me that our
ioraging parties are murdered after capture, and
labelled ''Death to all ForagerS." one instance OF
a Lieutenant and seven men near CheSterylle, and
another OF twenty ''near rarine 50 rods from the
main road, +" about three miles from baskerville /
have ordered a similar number of prisoners in our
hands to be disposed Of in like manner.
/ hJN about 1000 prisoners captured in VARIOUS
ways, and can stand il as long you, but 1 hardly
think these murders are committed with yOuT
knowledge. and would suggest that YOU give notice
20 the people al large that every life taken By them
simply results in The death of one of your Confede
OF course you cannot question NV right to forage
on the country. 1t is right as old as history
The manner of exercising II varies eth cireum-
stances and ii the'ciyil authorities win supply INV
reluisition will forbid all foraging But find
no civil authorities who can respond to calls for
forage or provisions, and therefore must collect di-
rectlv oft the people. have no doubt this is the
men, hut 1 caunot permit enemy 10 Judge or
punish with wholesale murder.
Personally, 1 regret the bitter feelings engender-
ed by this war bal they were to be- expected. and
simply aege that those who struck the first blow
AMI made war inevitable, ought not in fairness TO
reproach ms Tor the natural consequences merely
assert our war right TO forage, and my resolve to
protect my iorager to the extent OF life Tor liIe
am, With respect, rn
Your ohst servant,
- (Sigued) W. T. SHERMAS,
Mag Gen. y IS. A.
HsADQu4Nrrr. z rnr FIELD,
February %, 1868.
WtOr General " 7. Sherman, L. 5. army:
GENERAL: Your communication OF the 2Ith inst
reached to-day. In II YOU state that it has been
officially reported that your foragng parties were
murdered after capture, aud you 20 on 10 say
that You had "ordered a similar number OF prison
.r, in our hands 10 be disposed nj in like manner
That is TO say, you have ordered a number of Con-
lederate soldiers to be murdered
You characterize your order in proper terms, for
the public voice even in Your own country, where
seldom dares 10 express itself in viudication OF
truth honor Justice, will surely agree with YOU
IN pronounciug You guilty Of murder If your or
der IS carried out
Before dismiSsng this portion OF your letter, 4
beg To assure you that for every soldier OF mine
murdered" by you, | shall have executed al once
tro OF yours giving in all cases, preference to any
officers who NAV be IN my hands.
In reference to the statement you make regard
ing the death Of your toragers, have only to say
that know nothing Of it, that orders given by
author the killing OF prisoners after capture
aud that do not believe that my men killed any OF
yours except under circumstances in which il was
perfectly legitimate and proper they stAuld kill
jhem.
Ii is part Of the system OF thieves whom you
designate lorsgers, to IRE the dwellings of those
citizens whom they have robbed.
TCcheeE this inhuman system, which is Justly ex-
ecrated by every civilized nation, have directed
my men . shoot down all of your men who are
caught burning houses. This order shall remain in
force as oug you disgrace the profession of arms,
b. allowing your men to destroy private dwell
iugs. -st-r s.rt oh $50 as
You say that / cannot, OF course, question your
right to forage Cd the country. alt is right
efnrv 40 nOt. sir 80 ia
But there is right older even than tins, and
one more nshenable-the right that every mao has
to deiend his home and to protect those who are
'pendeut upon him. Aud from my heart | wish
that every old man and boy in my C try, who can
IRE a gun would shoot down, he would a wild
asst tie men VITO are desolating their land, burn
ng their no :, an n ulting their women.
lou are particular u defining and claiming s'war
ri shtS" May ! ask IL YOU enumerate among them
the right to fire upon deftnceless CITY without
notice 10 burn that city 20 the ground amer it had
been surrendered by the authorities, who claimed,
though ii, vain that protection which is always &C
corded in civilized warfare to nOn-conbatants to
the dwelling houses Of citizens after robbiBg
tLem and TO perpetrate even darker crimes than \
tuese-cfmes too black TO be mentioned
You have permitted, if YOU have not ordered,
the commission OF these often against hum anity
AID Ine rules Of war. You ired into the city of
Columbia without q word of warning. After its
surrender BY the Mayor, who demanded protection
10 private property, You laid the whole city in
ashes, leaving amid its ruins thousands OF old men
md helpless women and children, who are likely
90 perish OF starvation and exposure. Your line
OF march can be traced % the lurii light oil burn
lag houses and in more than olc household there
IS On sgony far bitter than that of death s-r,s
The Indian scalped his victim regardless OF sex
OF age, but with ali his barbarity, he always re-
,pected the persons OF his female captives. Your
soldiers more savage than the Indian insult those
whose natural protectors are absent
In conclusion, have only to request that when
ever Won have any of my men "disposedioi," or
.murdered," for the terms appear to be synony-
nous with yoa you will let ne hear OF 1t, In order
that | may know what action 10 take in the matter.
In the meantime shalt hold ffty-six Of your men
as hostages ~ those whom you ave ordered to be
executed.
l am yours, &C..
WADE HAMPTON,
Iieut General