The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-16
SHERMAN'S MARCH.
PEACH AND HONEY lIlDE HIM TALK
TREELY.
For The Constitution

| For The Constitution.
THE CoNsrITUTIoy's recent interview with
| Mr.. William Markham on sherman in At
lanta'' was reproduced in the northern dailies
and had q wide circulation.
| 1t excited General Sherman's wrath, but
MIR. Markham's testimony made 1t so clear
| that the march to tho sea was an afterthought
and not part Of the original programme, that
| the general wisely decided not to make posi-
| tive denial. He adroitly attempted to offset
| the interview by saying that it was trash, that
man would not buy horse upon such testi-
mony and that he and General Grant had
covered the subject in their memoirs, "Be-
Sides" said the general, twas it likely that I
would give my confidence to man in Atlanta
| whose name cannot remember?"
"What do you think of General Sherman
reply?" CONSTITUTIONS man said to Mr..
Markham.
"Trash" responded the old gentleman very
promptly. "Do you suppose that the facts
stated in my account of Sherman in Atlanta
rest upon my testimony alone? No, sir, there
were others who heard Sherman's talk, and
there are official documents that will sustain
my side of the controversy. 1 did not intend
to reflect upon the general IN anything that 1
said, and you will see that he denies nothing,
but answers me in manner that ill-becomes a
gentleman occupying his high position.
"He seems unable to recall my name," con-
tinued Mr.. Markham. Every well. l will
try to refresh his memory. When tho general
issued his order for confederate sympathizers
to 90 south and unionists to go north, L was ap-
pointed by the mayor on committee of ten or
twelve citizens to visit him and request him to
rescind his order, which was considered I'M
kind and even cruel. He said by,way Of justif-
cation and explanation that he had 800 miles
OF railroad to protect in his rear, that the peo-
pie who desired to remain could not feed
themselves, much less feed his army, and that
seven Of his soldiers were worth more to him
than the whole of Atlanta.
"a day or two later sent the general
bottle of fine peach brandy and honey, which
he said he relished very much. think he did
enjoy it, for the evening following he returned
the compliment by calling at my house and
spending some time with my family, and
neighbor, General Austell, who WAS q good
union man. 1t was then and there that he
made his statements with regard to fortifying
and holding Atlanta to the end of the war. l
know nothing of what had passed
between him and General Grant
and care nothing about it, but
the evidence is conclusive from what he said
and did while here that he had no intention of
going to Savannah until General Hood got in
his rear, and came very near capturing his sup
plies at Altoona. Then he divided his forces,
sending half of them under General Thomas
to fight Hood in Tennessee, while he came
back to Atlanta and started to the sea.
floods movement was perfect surprise to
Sherman, and there is overwhelming evidence
that up to that time Atlanta was to be his per-
Inanent headquarters, and that he thought the
4
been said in his memoirs and General Grants
book. In the first place, when he took At
lanta he promised his army months rest,
but when Hood surprised him he started TO the
coast before his soldiers had recuperated.
When no was at my house he said that
no was going to fortify Atlanta
and make it second Gibralter
so that 5000 men could hold it against the
world, and that the army of Virginia would
come here and end tho war. lie further said
that his chief engineer was making the survey
Nor tho Notifications. All this no said at my
mouse in the presence of Witnesses. One of
Them however, like General Grant, cannot
testify in any court on the earth-the other
witness is living.
"The next item of evidence is his order to
his chief engineer which is as follows:
'srd The chiefengineer viii promptly reconnoiter
the city and suburbs, and indicate the sites needed
for the permanent defense Of the place, together
with any houses or other buildings thar may stand
in his way that they may be set apart for destruc-
tion.'
CHOW, suppose we see what Sherman tele-
graphed to Grant at that time. On September
2sth, he sent this dispatch to Grant
4 think it better TO hold on to Atlanta. and
strengthen my rear, and therefore am glad you have
ordered troops to Nashville
''Just what he had said to me-h wanted
to hold on to Atlanta. On the first of Octo-
Der he gave up this idea because Hood was in
his rear, and telegraphed Grant as follows:
why would it not do for me to leave Tennessee
10 the forces which Thomas has ana the reserves
soon to come TO Nashville aud for me to destroy
Atlanta, and then march across Georgia to Swan
nah or Charleston, breaking roads aud doing
rreparable danagc2
'On the 9th Of October he telegraphed that
it was an impossibility TO protect the railroads.
with Hood, Forrest and Wheeler in his rear,
and that there was nothing for him to do but
to go to the coast. Is any more testimony
needed to establish the fact that his famous
march was the result Of necessity, and was not
planned by him when he first captured AT
lanta?
''One more point to recall my name to the
general. His officers told me that he himself
appointed mo on the committee to designate
the unionists to so north and the confederate
sympathizers to go south. He spent an even.
ing at my house. After the war called on
him in Washington, and asked him
to give me an affidavit that he
ordered the burning of Atlanta. He
said that he gave the order but refused the
affidavit He sat and conYersed with me hal
an hour or more. Possibly he has forgotten al
this. II is immaterial to me whether he recol
lects me or not, lie says my property was de
4 stroyed because was found in bad company
/ was as good a union man as he WAS, and thl
! burning of my property and that OF othel
unionists and others was wholly unnec
4 essary and did no good, and wa
| an outrageous piece of vandalism. Genera
/ Sherman's intentions when he came TO Allan
"a are matter of no consequence TO me q
\ this late date, and in my former interview
only stated facts His sneering card seems {,
put me ia false altitude, and what have
/ told you today will show you that he can no
do so with impunity. The documents 1 have