The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-02-06
II REMINpER OETIrE PAST.

II HEMrNpEn orruE PAST.
Sherman's Letter Declining to Let the
Women and Children Remain In
Atlanta.
HDo RS. Mil. DIV. OF Miss. IN FIELD,
ATLANTA Ga, Sept. l2, 1864.
James M. Calhoun, Mayor !; II. II.
Raaoson aas0 II. e. 1VeUs, repre-
senti~g CITY Council Of 1tlauta.:
GENrLEMEN-I have your letter of
the 1lth in nature of apetition to
revoke my orders removing all
inhabitants from Atlanta. T have
read it carefully, and give full credit
to your statements of the distress
that will be occasioncd, and shall
not revoke my orders, because they
were not designed to meet the hui
1nanities of the case, (but to prepare
for tho future struggles in which
millions of good people outside of
Atlanta have a & ep interest.) We
must have peace, not only in ATTAIN
ia, but in all America. TO secure
this we must stop tho war that now
desolates our once happy and favor
cd country. CTo stop the war we
must defeat the Rebel armies which
are arrnyed against the laws and
constitution that all must respect
and obey.) TO defeat these armies
we must prepare the way to reach
them in their recess, provided with
arms and Instruments which will
enable us to accomplish our pur-
pose, Now, [ know the vindictive
nature of our enemy, that we may
have many years of military opera
tions from this quarter and, there
fore, deem it wise and expedient to
prepare in time. The uso of Atlanta
TOR warlike purposes is inconsistent
with it's character rs home for
families. There will be no manufac-
lures, commercial or agricultural
here, for tho maintenance of fami-
lies, and sooner OF later want will
compel the inhabitants to go. Why
not go now, when all the arrange
ments are completed for the trans.
Ter, instead of waiting till the
plunglng shot or contending armies
will renew the scenes of the past
month? Of course I do not appre-
hend any such thing at this moment,
but you do not suppose this army
will be here till the war is over ?
cannot discuss this subject with
you fairly, because L cannot impart
to you what we propose to do, but
l assert that our military plans
make it necessary for the inhabi-
tants to 60 away, and I can only
renew my offer of services to make
their exodus in any direction as easy
and comfortable MS possible. You
might as we'll appeal against the
thunderstorm as against these
terrible hardships of war they arc
inevitable, and the only way the
people Of Atlanta can hope once
more to live in peace and quiet at
home is to stop the war, which can
only be done by admitting that it
began in error and is perpetuated in
pride.
We don't want your negroes, or
your horses, or your houses, or
your lands, or anything you have,
but we do want and will have q
just obedience to the laws of the
United States. That we will have,
andiflt involves tho destruction of
your improvements, we cannot holp
it.
But, my dear sirs, when it does
come. you may call on me for any,
thing. Then I will share with YOU
the last cracker, and watch with you
to shield your homes and families
against danger from every quarter.
Now, you must go, and take with
you the old and feeble, feed and
nurse them, and build for them, in
more quiet places, proper habitn-
tions to shield them against the
weather until the mad passions of
mon cool down, and allow union and
peace once more to settle over your
old homes at Atlanta.
Yours in haste,
W. IT. SHERMAN,
Maj jor- General Commanding.