New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-13
Sherman REGULATING for the Murder OF
His ROrngcrs.

CORRESPONDENT W fIN ii11 AM i-H n''"NS
GIN. WADE HAMPTON
upQas MILITARY DIVISION Oh TIE MISSISSIPPI
il I'M FIfLD. Feb. 81. lsbl
Lieut. Gen. WADE HAMrToS' coHraHdiHs Care'rs
Torces, 4. s. 4
GENERAL: 1t is officially reported to me that
our foIaring parties murdered after capture and
labeled "Dcafh 10 ali foragcrs" One instance Of a
lieutenant and seven near Chesterfield and another
Of twenty, near rayine eight, rods from the main
road" about three miles from leasteryile. tdrs
Ordrfd similar Number Of yfts0gts "a our taHas u te
disp0sed of IN like ncnro.
ihold about ore thousand prisoners captured in vai
WAYS and GG1d a. a. long as yoHi but hnfdly
think these murders are committed with yoar hnpsi'
edges and would suggest that you give notice 70 tic
pc pie az large that every lie token bv them simply
results 10 the death Of one Of your confedera'e-.
OF course you cannot question my right TO forage on
the county. IL Is war right ss Old as history. Ihe
manner Of exercising varies With circumstance. and
forbid all foraSsg. Bot ind no ei, suthorities WHO
respond 10 calls fol forage or provisions ana ihefe
fore must c.lcct directly NJ tho people have 10
doubt this Is the occasion Of much msbehavior on ihe
part II our but cannot permit an enemy TO Judge
OF punish with Wholesale murder.
Personally regret the bitter feelings ergcndcred ny
this war; hut they were 10 be expected. and simply
lege that those WHO struck the nIst blow aud made
orshi not n nirnes to reproaeh Us Tor
forge ana resolve to protect ny 'oraseT, 10 tie
c1en, Of life for he am. with respect !o9r os'dieD'
GIN. HAMPToss EFrLY.
HEADQUARTERS, IN TBr fmlD. Feb. q, lst3.
MILO, Gsn ". 4. SnLfsiAS. U. y Arny
GrSrRsI; Your comm uEicntion Of The "ffh inss
reached me today In rot state that II has been "'
ciav reported tina, your fureging parties were Wur
dcTed AFTER capture AID You ~ on TO say that !on h,d
ordered similar nambor 81 prisoners III l0ur Atius
,o be disposed q IN Ike manner That Is TO say you
have ordered number Oh oohiederlie '"ue's " NC
Won characterize your order IT, proper terms. fr the
,uhc vI,e ga, n in your own country where u seldom
aSres 10 exp Itself yindcaiion Of truth honor or
nstcc viii surely agree with you IN pr9noaneng you
s,utlty ~ iluTdeI II your order is carried out
Before diminishing this portion OF your letter bes 10
a,suIe yol for ,ruy s0ldier i nine nHTderta D. you
shdll hare ,4tcHi,d AZ once iro 81 yoH' gNihs ~ h
cases preference TO any ofleers WHO may be III n!
In reference TO the statement yon make regarding TIE
death Of your forsgcrs have only TO say That KNOW
nothing Of IL; that orders given by me authorizes inc
killing Of prisoners after capture, ana That DO hot
believe tlat my killed any Of yours except under
circumstances in which IL was perfectly legitimate shu
proper they should XII them.
designate a. your forngcTr fire the DIV engs oi these
citizens whom they have robbed
10 check this inhumsn system, which u justly c2e'
Grated by every civilized nation have directed ny
men 10 shoot down MI of Your men who are caught
burning houses. This order shall remain IN iofcc 5
long as You disgrace the profession Of arms ny a!o"ilH
yonr men 10 destroy private dwellings. -,
You say that cannot, Of course, question your feh'
10 forage the country " IL Is IigL' as Ola az ne
tory" do not, sir question this right But there's
rglt older even than this and one more lnalienhhc-
The right that every has TO defend BIS home ana u
uroect those who are dependent upon hlli ana NUN
inv heart wish that every old man and boy In my
country who can fire gun. would shoot down. ~ he
wopld a wild beast. the men who are desolating Their
land burning their houses and Insulting their women
| You ore particular In defining and claiming war
rights" May ask II you enumerate among them tie
riyL TO fire upon dcfenseless city without notice; 10
burn TINT city ground after had been surrendered
b, the authorities, who claimed though IN vain that
protection which Is always accorded in civilized warfare
l. non comba,ans TO Ere the dwelling houses Of citi'
zens after robiDg them and To perperaie even darker
crimes than these-crmes too black 10 be mentioned.
You have permitted. II you have not ordered, the com
mission OF these oicnscs against Humanity and the rules
of war You fired into the city Of Columbia without
word Of warning After les surrender by the Mayor,
who demanded protection TO private property. yon laid
the whole city in ashes leaving amid It's ruins thou
sands Of old men and helpless women and children, who
are likely 10 perish Of slars alton and exposure Nonr
line of march traced by the lurid light % burning
houses ard In than household there IL an ago
| nv more bitter than that Of death.
The Indian ped his victim regardless of rex or
age but with all his barbaty he always respected the
| persops Of his female captyes. Your soldiers. more
than the Indian, insult those whose natural pro
teciOrs are absent.
In conclusion have only TO request that whenever
You have any OF ny disposed Of. or murdered
for the terms appear 10 be synonymous with YOU YOU
will let me hear Of H. In order that may know what
action to take In the natter In the meantime shall
hold fty.sx Of your hostages for those whom
Won have ordered 10 be executed am. yours, sc,