The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-09
THE sOUTH,s LAST SHIFT.
An Emancipation Proposition in the Army
In 1864.

| an GtuhuCApfttAoA iopooAtioA 1A eAAo ]AA ny
In 1864.
WASHINGTON, March 20.-In the
Confederate Gen. Hoods book on the
late war, called "The Advance and Re.
treat" occurs the following mysterious
passage concerning Gen. Patrick Gle
burne one of the most brilliant of the Con-
federate generals who served in the
Southwest:
He (Cleburne) possessed the boldness
and the wisdom to earnestly advocate at
an early period of the war the freedom
of the negro and the enrolment of the
young and able bodied of that race.
This source of policy and additional
source of strength to our armies would,
in my opinion, have given us our inde-
pendence.
The correspondence printed below, the
originals of which are in. the archives of
the war department, explains how and
on what occasion Gen. Cleburne made
this proposition and how it was received.
The Western Confederate army lay at
Dalton, Ga, during the Winter of 1863 4,
which preceded the Atlanta campaign.
From Dalton Gen. Patton Anderson
wrote Gen. Leonidas Polk as follows:
DALTON, GA, January H., 1864.
To Lieut.-Gen. l.. Polk, Enterprise,
Miss.-General: After you have read
what am about to disclose to you hope
you will not thinkI have assumed any un.
warrantable intimacy in marking this
communication as confidential" My
thoughts for ten days past have been so
oppressed with the weight of the subject
as to arouse in my mind the most pain
full apprehensions of future results, and
have caused me to cast about for friend
of clear head, ripe judgment and pure
patriotism with whom to confer and take
counsel My choice has fallen upon you,
sir, and I proceed at once to lay the mat
ter before you.
On January I received circular
order from the headquarters of Hind
mans corps informing me that the com.
manding general of the army desired
division commanders to meet him at his
quarters at z o'clock that evening.
At the hour designated I was at the
appointed place. l met in the room Gen.
Johnston, Lieut.. Gen. Hardee, Major
Gems. Walker, Stewart and Stevenson,
aud in moment afterward Major. Gems.
Hindman and Cleburne entered, Brig.
Gen. Bate coming in few minutes later.
The whole, with the general commanding,
embracing all the corps and division
commanders (infantry) of this army
except Major. Gen. Cheatham, who was
not present. In few minutes Gen.
Johnston requested Lieut.. Gen. Harden
to explain the object of the meeting,
which be did by stating that Major Gen.
Cleburue had prepared with great care q
paper on an important subject addressed
to, the officers of this army, and he pro-
posed that it now be read.
Gen. Cleburne proceeded to read an
elaborate article on the subject of our
past disasters, present condition and
inevitable future ruin unless an entire
change of policy might avert it.
That change he boldly and proudly
proposed to effect by emaucipating our
OF all of them capable of bearing arms,
thus securing them to US as allies and
equals, and iusuring superiority of
numbers over our enemies, &c.
Yes, sir, this plain, but in my view
monstrous, proposition WAS calmly sub
mitted to the generals of this army for
their sanction and adoption, with the
ayowed purpose OF carrying it to the rank
and file.
will not attempt to describe my feel
ings on being confronted by a project so
startling in its character-may 1 say so
revolving to Southern sentiment, South.
ern honorP
And not the least painful of the emo
tons awakened by it was the conscious.
meas which forced itself upon me that it
met with favor from others besides the
author in high station then present. You
hayea place, General, in the Southern
hearL perhaps not less exalted than that
you occupy in her army. No one knows
better than yourself all the hidden pow.
ers and secret springs which move the
great moral machinery of the South.
You know whence she derived that force
which three years ago impelled her to
the separation and has since that time
to this present hour enabled her to lay
all she has, even the blood of her best
sons, upon the altar of independence,
and do you believe that the South will !
now listen to the voices of those who
would ask her to stullify herself by en-.
tertaiuing proposition which heretofore
our insoleut foes themselves have not
even dared to mako in terms so bold and
undisguised?
What are we to do? If this thing is
once openly proposed to the army the
total disintegration of that army will
follow in fortnight, and yet to speak
and work in opposition to it is an agita-
ton of the question scarcely less to
be dreaded at this time and brings down
the universal indignation of the South
ern people and the Southern soldiers
upon the head of at least one of our
brayest and most accomplished officers.
Then, repeat what is to be done?
What relief it would afford me to talk
to you about this matter, but as that may
not be, do go too far in asking you to
write to me?
start in few days to my home in
Monticello, Fla, where expect to spend
twenty days with my family, and I as
sure you, General, it would add much to
the enjoyment of my visit if y,u would
favor me by mail with some of the many
thoughts which this subject will arouse
in your mind.
Believe me, General, very truly your
friend, PATTON ANDERSON.
GEN. cLEBURNE's REBUFF.
Gen. Cleburne's proposition received
such rebuff that he destroyed his own
copy Of the paper he read in advocacy of
it; and the copy to Richmond has not
been found. The following summary of
its points was preserved by Major