The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-06-16
Letter from x.PresIdent DAVIS.

1
len, former Confede crate officer, il
which he repels with warmth ,h'
broad intimation contained in Gen
Sherman's "Memoirs,'' that ht
(Davis) was connected with the plo
| which resulted in assas sination oi
President Lincoln whilst the story
that when captured he "was travel
ing with wagon transpor ion ane
had few thousand dollars Of spocie
ina valise," is thoroughly exploded
Acting on the principle that blows
should be givon as we'll ss received
Mr.. Davis administers severe cas-
tigation to General Sherman, charg.
ing him with q violation of The
terms of surrender accorded to Gen.
Johnston, and with tho display of on
in sradloablo malignity: a
MEMpHls, TENN, Ma, 27, 1875
My Dear Ser: Please accept m
thanks for your kind letter of the
10th instant, and che accompany.
ing copy of st. Louis paper, con.
tanning an extract from tho forth.
coming work of Gen. W. Il. Sherman
My absence delayed the receipt ol
your letter and this reply to it. The
malice that seeks to revive the ne
fariously concooted and long since
exploded slauder which connected
my name with the assa sination OF
President Lincoln, is quito in char.
actor with the man who SO conduct.
ed his invasion of tho South as to
render "Sherman's bummcrs" tho
synonym Of pilage, arson, cruelty
to the helpless, aud murder Of non
! combatants, and who closed his
career of arson with false aocusa.
tion against Con. Hampton in re.
gard to the burning Of Columbia,
South Carolina. But tho question
arises, why did Gen. Sherman, at
the date of his reported conversation
with Gen. j. d. Johnston, suppose
mo capable, of completely in tho
assassination of President lincoln? 2
General Sherman never was per.
sonally acquainted with me, and
from thbse who knew me, either in
the United States army or in OWL
life, surely, learned nothing to justify
such suspicion. In the conduct Of
the war between the States,2 despite
many baseless accusations, we
can proudly point to a record which
shows strict adherence to the
usages Of war between civilized ma !.
tions. On what, then, did the sus.
picion Of Gen. Sherman rest 2 Was
1t not that, proceeding on the rule
of Judging others by oneself, no as.
cribed to me the murderous and ma
licious traits of his own nature '@'H
lilo reports conversation with
President Lincoln, from which is to
be inferred desire to have authori.
ty for departing from the course
which, as u soldier, he must have
known was usual and proper towards
prisoners of war. Did he hope to get
instructions for the slaughter of the
Confederaoy's President and cabinet
officers, rs set forth in the orders of
Col. Dahlgren, when he made his
raid against Riohmond2 If the
good natured, characteristics reply
of President Lincoln taught him
that murder was not the approved
measure, it seomsto have failed to
Inspire him with the generosity and
charity which is eYor found in noble
minds, or with the cil,v8lry which
ever adorns the character Of the true
soldier and gentleman. as.n.qt
Among the articles of the surren.
der Of General j. T.. Johnston. there
was one prohibiting military lexpe.
ditions in the country East of the
Chattahooohi River. That was the
best consideration obtained for the
surrender of armies, arms, ammuni-
tions and manufactures in that SEQ.
tion, and it was in violation of that
article, that the brigade of cavalry
by which | was captured was soour.
ing the county and freely taking
from the unprotected people the
little, which was left to them for
their, future subsistence. From the
statement of Gen. Sherman, we
learn thata story bad been told, to
the effect that l was carrying in
wagons aillions Of specie to tho
South, and therefore, we are left
to conclude, was made that expedi.
tion in violation of the agreement, of
surrender. Though the story of tho
millions Of specio is now admitted
by Gen. Sherman to have, been q
fiction, the, admission is made in suoh
terms as would lead tue reader to
suppose had been travelling with
wagon transportation, and had a few
thousand dollars Of speoie in valise.
But neither supposition would bs
tue. had recently joined the
wagon train, and was about to leave
when captured my only baggage
was yaliBe, lwhiohwas packed od' q
mule, and it contained no specie,
The few thousand dollars of specie
we're in q pair Of saddle bags belong.
Iihgt Secretary Reagan. 70 tWhetRef
'that money ever reached theoUnited
States Treasury, iMrld Reagan, from
ighom;it was taken, may be able
to learn after ho shall have assmsa
his functions as q R,pressntatyo III
Etho United States Cohgfess. Z 9
+ Should the'ooufse of3th9 oom mia1d