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

WASHINGTON, March 2O.-Iu the
confederate Gen. Hoods book on tbf
late war, called "The Advance and Re
treat" occurs the following mysterio,,
passage concerning Gen. Patrick Gle
burne one of the most brilliant of the Con.
lederate generals who served in the
Southwest:
He (Cleburne) possessed the boldnes,
ana tue wisdom to earnestly advocate al
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 indie.
pendenco.
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 aud how it was received.
The Western Confederate army lay at
Dalton, Ga, during the Winter Of 1864.
which preceded the Atlanta campaign.
From Dalton Gen. Patton Anderson
wrote Gen. Leonidas Polk as follows:
DALTON, GA, January II, 1864.
10 Lieut.-Gen. l.. Polk, Enterprise,
Miss.--General: After you have read
what am about to disclose to you hone
you will not think have assumed any un.
warrantable intimacy in marking this
communication as confidential" NV
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 aud take
counsel. My choice has fallen upon you,
sir, and l proceed at once to lay the mat
ter before you.
On January 2 received a 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 o'clock that evening.
At the hour designated / was at the
appointed place. 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,
all the corps and division
Infantry of this army
except Major Gen. Cheatham, who was
not present. In few minutes Gen.
j Johnston requested Lieut.. Gen. Harden
to explain the object of the meeting,
which he did by stating that Major Gen.
Cleburne had prepared with great care
paper on ap 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
to effect by emancipating our
slaves and putting muskets in the hands
OF all Of them capable of bearing arms,
thus securing them TO us as allies and
and insuring superiority of
over o enemies, &c.
Yes, sir, tn. ,lain, but in my view
proposition was calmly sub.
mtted to the generals of this army for
their sanction and adoption, with the
av"wed purpose Of carrying it to the rank
and file.
will not attempt to describe my feel
ings on being confronted by a project so
in its character--may [ say so
TO Southern sentiment, South.
ern hnnor2
And not the least painful Of the emo.
tions awakened by it was the conscious
meas which forced itself upon me that it
met with favor from others besides tho
author in high station then present. You
have place, General, in the Southern
heart perhaps not less exalted thun 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 tho South.
You know whence she derived that! force
which three years ago impe,led 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,
aud do you believe that Lbs South will
now listen to the voices of those who
would esk her to- stultify herself by en-.
proposition which heretofore
our insoIent foes themselves have not
even dared to mako in terms so bold and
,..ast
What are we to do3 Ifthis thing is
once openly proposed to the urmy the
total disintegration of that army will
follow in a Fortnight, aud yet to speak
and work In opposition TO 1t is an agita-
tion 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
bravcst and most accomplished officers.
Then, I Irepeat what Is to be done?
What relief 1t would afford me to talk
to you about this matter, but as chat may
not be, do I go too far in asking you to
write to me7 80 ts
start in few days to my home in
Monticello, Fla, where expect to spend
twenty days with my family, and as
sure you, General, it would add much to
the enjoyment Of my visit If y,u would
favor me by meii 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 oil
It +; and the copy to Richmond has not
been found. The following summary OF
its points was preserved by Major
Charles s. Hill, the accom- plished stats.
tician Of the State department, who. was
Clebnrne's chief of artillery. at the time
the memorial was prepared. - R!ai ~
The memorial was long, each point be.
log carefully elaborated. The heads are
given by Major Hill's memorandum, as