The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-08
From the 81. Louis Times.1
The "Trutt of Htstory..s


GENERAL sHKRMAh's IHTIAATIoN OF JEFF,
DAVIs's COMPLETELY m THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT LIscoLN--wHAT Mr.. DAVIS HAS
TO SAY.
We are permitted to make public the fol-
owing very interesting letter from Jefferson
Davis in answer TO charge made by Gene
raj Sherman in bis lately Unpublished book OF
memoirs:
MEMPHIS, TENN, May q, 1875.
Colonel ". F. Melien:
My Dear 'Sir,-Please accept my thanks
for your kind letter of the 10th instant and
the accompanying copy OF st. Louis paper
containing an extract from the forthcoming
work OF General W. T. Sherman. My alb.
Sence delayed the receipt of your letter and
this reply to it.
The malice that seeks to revive the nefa-
riousy connected and long since exploded
SANDER which connected my name with the
assassination of President Lincoln is quite in
character with the man who so conducted
bis invasion of the South as to render "Sher.
mans buumers" the synonym of pillage,
arson, cruelty to the helpless, and murder OF
non-combaants, and who closed his career
of arson with false accusation against Gen.
erai Hampton in regard to the burning of
Columbia, South Carolina.
But the question arises, Why did General
Sherman, at the date Of bis reported CONVEX
sation with General j. E. Johnston, suppose
me capable Of completely in the assassination
Of President Lincoln?
General Sherman never was personally &C.
qllainted with me; and from those who
knew me, either in the United States army
or in civil life, surely learned nothing to
!, In no It,c IF ho
war between the States, despite many base
less accusations, We can proudly point to a
record which shows strict adherence TO the
usoges of war between civilized nations. On
what, then, did the suspicion of General
Sherman rest? Was it not that, proceeding
on the rule of Judging others by oneself, he
ascribed to me the murderous and malicious
traits of bis own nature:
He reports q conversation with President
lincoln, from which is to be inferred de.
sire to have authority for departing from the
course which, as soldier, be must have
known was usual and proper towards pri-
soners of war. Did he hope to get instruc-
tons for the slaughter of the Confcderacy' 5
President and Cabinet officers, as set forth in
the orders of Colonel Dahlgren, when be
made bis raid against Richmond? If the
good-natured. characte ristic reply Of Presi-
dent Lincoln taught him that murder was
not the approved measure, 1t seems to have
failed to inspire him with the generosity and
charity which are ever found in noble minds,
or with the chivalry which ever adorns the
character of the true soldier and gentleman.
Among the articles of the surrender OF
General j. Z. Johnston there was one pro-
hibting military expeditions in the country
east of the Chaltahoochie river. That was
the best consideration obtained for the sur
render of armies, arms, munitions, and
manufactures in that section. and it was in
violation of that article that the brigade OF
cavalry by which was captured was scour-
ing the country, and freely taking from the
unprotected people the ltte which was left
to them Tor their future subsistence. From
this statement of General Sherman we learn
that story bad been told to the effect that
was CARRYING in wagons millions Of specie IT,
the South, nd, therefore, we are left 10 con-
cude, made that expedition in violation Of the
agreement of surrender. Though the story
of the millions of specie is now admitted by
General Sherman to have been fiction, the
admission is made 10 such terms as would
lead the reader to suppose had been travel
ling with wagon transportation and bad d
few thousand dollars of specie in valse
But neither supposition would be true.
nad recently ,ined the wagon train. and was
about to leave it when captured. My only
baggage was valise, which was packed on
mule, and it contained no specie. The fe"
thousand dollars Of specie were in pair oil
saddle.b bags belonging to Secretary Reagan.
Whether that money ever reached the United
States Treasury, Mr.. Reagan, from whom II
was taken, may be able TO learn after he shall
have assumed his functions as representa-
1--we in The United States Congress.
Should the course Of the Commanding
General of the army, in attempting ut this
late day 10 resu>cltate a deiunct slander
against the President Of the late Contederacy
and to which SANDER not eyeo suborned Wit
nesses could give the semblance of truth, be
taken as the exponent of the feeling OF The
amy, that arm of tue General Government
would seem TO be i'll suited to the task, o.
late so largely assigned 10 it, Of preserving
civil order and of restoring harmony among
the people of the United States. For public
considerations il is tobe hoped that the in.
eradlcabc maignty of Sherman may be an
exception to the prevailing sentiments of the
United States army.
Again thanking you for your friendly con-
sideraton, am very truly yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
DEATH OF CHARLES DE RENUsAT.-Pdris,