The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-09
Grants Jew Order.
H'Do'Rs ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, May 6, 1868.

VI ucu. OTduG, udtcu OAiOIu, uiSS', DO-
cember II, 1862, expelling Jews as a
class from his department, is before me-.
You are doubtless aware that Gen. Grant
has never, either by himself or by the aid
of friends, attempted to defend any militia
ry order which the emergencies Of the
service seemed at the time to require,
However, as my name is attached to it as
assistant adjutant general, it may not
be improper to state that at and previous
to its date, our military affairs were in a
most critical condition, and important
movements were transpiring. Gen. Sher-
man was collecting forces at Memphis and
Helena, Gen. Grant was moving steadily
against Pemberton at Grenada, keeping
up appearances of immediate attack to di-
vert his attention from Sherman; and in
cooperation with Grant, Dodge was NOV
ing south from Corinth. The success of
Grants plans depended in keeping the
enemy in Ignorance Of his real purpose,
namely the surrender and capture of
Vicksburgh by Sherman; and it was
therefore of the utmost importance that
every avenue of information to the enemy
should be closed.
The most string ent orders had previous
ly been published, forbidding persons 60
ing or coming through our lines, limiting
traders to certain boundaries, and prohib-
iting the passage of coin south, or the
payment of it for southern products. Per-
sistent violations of these orders by Per-
sons principally of the Jewish race, were
the subjects of constant reports by many
of Gen. Grants subordinates, some of
whom had even issued orders expelling
them from the lines, but which General
Grant had promptly revoked. Reports of
the same character were also received
from other than military sources. At
length, on the evening of December 1lth,
1862. (the date Of the order) the mail
brought from Washington large number
of complaints, officially referred to him by
the gcneral-in-chef of the army, against
this class of persons, for violations of the
above mentioned orders. The General
felt, on reading them, that some immediate
action was demanded of hilu. lie realized
to its full extent the critical condition of
military affairs, and judged, whether wise
ly or uuwisely, that to meet the exgcncy
action must be Immediate, thorough, and
in form not to be evaded. The order
you refer to was the result. 1t was written
and telegraphed to his subordinates with
out revision, leaving all persons not justly
amenable to its terms to be relieved on
their personal apr lication.
The idea that it was issued on account
of the religion of the Jews cannot be seri-
ously entertained oy any one who knows
the Generals steadfast adherence to the
principles of American liberty and relig-
ious tolcration.
Very respectfully your obodient SER
want,
JOHN A. RAWLINGS.
To Lewis n. Dembitz, Esq, Louisville
Ky.
| 1t has been said in extenuation of Gen
Grant, that the famous "Jew order" was
not issued by him at all, but by one oil
his subordinatcs, without his authority
But this letter Of his chief of staff dispels
this fabrication, and shows that Grant
was himself the author of the order, and
in so great hurry was he to have it en-
forced that he had it forwarded by tele.
graph to all his subordinates. The ex
cuse given by Gen. Rawlings for issuing
this order is paltry enough, showing Grant
to have been governed by passion instead
of reason. Jews no doubt were trouble
some, but so were Christians, and so wer,
women; and there would have been Jus
as much sense in his issuing orders expel
ling all Christians and all women from hi
lines, as in expelling all the Jews.
Gen. Rawlings says in his Dembitz let
ter that Grants order is left to oall per
sons not justly amenable to its terms t.
be relieved on their individual applica
tion." The chief of staff must have sin
gularly defective memory to make such
statement as this. Here is the languag
Of the order, countcrsigned by Rawling
himself:
"Thcy (post commanders) will see tha
all this class Of people are furnished witt
passes and required to leave; and any on
returning after such notification wiH be a,
rented and held m confinement until a
opportunity occurs of sending them on
as prisoners, unless furnished with pei
mits from these headquarters"
1t will thus be seen that if one of thes