The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-06-23
sclr Davis SgaipS @ r Sherman.
e
HEMr is, Tenn,
Ma, q, 1876.

Col. w. +. Nelisn
Ny DEAR SIR PIE. Sc accept my
thanks for your kih letter of the
10Th inst. and thesccc inpqiying copy
of Sc Louis pspe Seontaining an,
extract from the fc Incoming work
of General W. 7. 81 erman. Ny alb
sence delayed ther ,eipt Of your let
ter and this reply t it. THE malice
that seeks to reviy the nefariously
concocted and Ion since exploded
SANDER swhicla CO nected my name
with the assassin: ton of PRESIDENT
Lincoln, is quite in character with
The man who SO conducted his inva,
sion of tie South aa to render "sher-
mans bummers'' the synonym of pill
lage, arson, cruelty to the helpless,
and murder of non combatants, and
who closed his career of arson with a
false accusation against Gen. Hamp-
ton in regard TO the burning of Co
lumbia, S. G. 5 t-gp
But the question arises, why did
General Sherman, at the date Of his
reported conversation with General
J. E. Johnston, suppose me capable
. -
of completely in the Assassination of
President Lincolna General Sher-
man never was personally acquainted
with me; and, from those who knew
me, either in the United Slater army,
or in civil Fife, surely learned moth
ing to Justify such suspicion. Inthe
conduct Of the war between the
States, despite of many baseless ac-
cusations, we can proudly point to a
record, which shows q strict adher-
ence to the usages Of war between
civilized nations. On what, then did
the suspicion of Gen. Sherman rest2
Was it not that proceeding on the
rule Of Judging others by oneself, he
ascribed to me the mnrderous and
malicious traits of his own nature
lie reports conversation with Pres
ident Lincoln, from which is to be
inferred D desire to have authority
for departing from the coure, which
as a soldier, he must have known was
Usual and proper toward prisoners OF
war. Did he hope to get instruc-
tons for the slaughter Of the Confed-
eracy's President and cabinet off
GERS, as set forth in the orders Of Col
Dahlgren, when he made his raid
against Richmond9 If the good.na
tured, characteristic reply of Presi
dentiLincoln Taught him that murder
was not the approved measure, il
seems to have failed to inspire hin
with the generosity and charity
which is ever found in noble minds
or with the chivalry which eve
adorns the character Of the true sol
dier aud gentleman. Among the ar
tides of the surrender of Genera
Joseph t.. Johnston, there was on
prohibiting military expeditions il
thr country east oftFtc Chattallooclii
river. That was the best considers
ton obtained ror the surrender c
armies, arms, munitions and MANI
factories in that section, and it wa
il violation Of that article that til
brigade of cavalry, by which [ wa
caytured, was securing the countr
and freely taking from the unprote'
ted people the little which was lie
to them for their future subsistence
From the statement of Gener;
Sherman we learn that story ha
been told to the. effect that We
carrying in wagons millions of sp
Gle to the SOUTH, and therefore, v
are left to conclude, made that exp
dition in violation of the agreemei
of surrender. Though the story
the millions ofspeoie is now ADM
ted by General Sherman to hay
been a fiction, the admission is mao
in such terms as would leave I'll
leader to suppose that had bee
travelling with wagon transportatio
and had a few, Thousand dollars I
specie in my valise. But Meth,
(, superstition would be true. I hs
recently Joined the wagon train, ar
was about to leave it when capturet
my only baggage was a valise, whie
was packed on mule, and it co.
tanned no specie. The few thousar
dollars of specie were in q pair !
saddle-bags, belonging to secretal
Reagan. Whether that money ey'
reached the United States treasur
Mr.. Reagan, from whom it was t
ken, may be able to learn after |
shall have assumed his functions .
representative in the United stat'
Congress. 'is9' 80 .,s1
r. ~ n ~