Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-12
GENERAL SHERMAN ON JEFFERSON
DAVIS

The following is that portion of
General Sherman's speech, made at
the late reunion of the society Of the
Army of the Potomac, at Hartford,
and to which Gen D. II. Maury takes
exception in letter published in the
Tribune of yesterday morning:
I did not have the privilege Of sharing in
the operations of the Army of the Potomac,
but L have been over the ground, and was
personally acquainted with nearly all your
army corps and division commanders, and
say, publicly and emphatically, that, Davis
to the contrary Notwithstanding, / approve
of General Grants movement from Wash
ington to Richmond by land instead of by
water. War is an awful game, and demands
death and destruction. A certain amount of
tighting-of killing-had to be DONE and
the banks of the Rapidan and MattapOny
were as good place for it as those of the
James and AppomattOx. So far as [ am
capable Of Judging, General Badeau has
told his story of the terrible battles from the
Wilderness to AppOmattOX Courthouse
clearly and well. | know that heart burnings
are generated by illusions to personal traits
of character, but [ do not see how General
Badeau could otherwise have accounted for
actual results. [ assuredly rose from the
perusal of his volume with higher estimate
of the great Army of the Potomac than [
had before, and am now better prepared to
unite with you in celebrating its perseverance,
its mighty courage and heroism To have
your names inscribed on its rolls is an honor
that your children will value more
than you do. AS to Mr. Davis
- Rise and Fall of the Southern
Confederacy," / confess [ have not seen the
volume, only the copious extracts in the
New York Herald Of June 3, 1881, and
hardly know whether to treat them serious
~ or jocosely. 1t was not expected that he
would feel kindly to those who awakened
him so rudely from his dream of empire,
but surely, in stating facts beyond the reach
of his vision or understanding he ought to
have approximate the truth, even as TO his
enemies Assuming the quotations publish
ed in the Herald as authentic, [ wish to say
that it was lucky for Mr. Davis that General
Johnston, in May, 1864 did not obey
his orders and assume the offensive
from Dalton to the north side of the Ten
nessee River. One would suppose that af-
ter the experience of both Johnston and
Hood, whose courage and skill no man dis
putes. even Mr.. Davis would be convinced
that the aggressive campaign foreshadowed
IN his several general propositions of April
Is, 1864, was the veriest nonsense. John
| ston did not have, at Dalton, 70, 900 men,
and Mr.. Davis ought to have known it, and
Johnston on the spot was better qualified to
| judge than Mr.. Davis at Richmond. As to
the removal of the non-cOmbatant popula-
ton from Atlanta Mr.. Davis says that since
Alva's atrociOus cruelties III the Netherlands,
in the sixteenth century, there has been
nothing in comparison for cruelty. He had
a right to publish such words in 1864, when
extraordinary language was needed to arouse
| the sinking energies Of his people Gas he
called them, but at this late date it is sim
ply absurd. Not man, woman or child
was harmed in that removal
Major Clare of the Confederate army. ap-
pointed by General Hood, and General vii
lard Warner, of my staff, now living in Te-
cumseh, Cherokee county, Ala, certified
Jointly to me this fact. The following is
Major Clare's report in full, and think Mr..
Davis will hear from General Warner in
good time:
CONFEDERATE lNsPEoToR-GENERAL's
OFFICE, Sept %, 1864.
To Col E. j. Harvie. Inspector General:
COLONEL: I have the honor to make tbe
following report in reference to the removal
of families from Atlanta under Major Gen
eral Sherman's Federal army order of expul
sion. Receiving verbal orders from General
Hood on the evening of the 18th to conduct
the truce agreed upon between himself and
Majof-General Sherman, started as soon AS
possible, reaching Rough and Ready at 80
on the morning of the 18th of September.
Shortly after reaching there, met the COM
manding officer of the Federal guard and
soon afterward Col. Warner, of General
Sherman's staff, the Federal truce officer
Having established with these officers the
preliminaries of the truce, and the manner
in which it should be carried out, and made
arrangement in regard to the guards, 1
awaited the arrival of the trains from Allan
ia. The inclosed reports of the names of
the families arriving and the number and
date of their arrival, will give all the infor-
nation on these points.
Some delays and irregularities in regard
to the arrival of trains having occurred, l
demanded of the Federal officer in charge
the reason thereof, and their correction.
He informed me that every means of trans
portation was placed at the disposal of the
citizens for the purpose of removing their
families and effects. On sending for Mayor
Calhoun and the committee of citizens
charged with removing the people from
Atlanta I ascertained that this statement
was correct I then only urged upon the
people, through the mayor, to come during