Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-02-11
MI. Davis and General Grant
HICKORY GROVE, Prince William CO,
Eshrnarv 10 1890

HICKORY GROVE, Grlnce Wllllam Co,
February 10, 1890.
To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
Sir Your paper recently contained let
ter claimed to have been written by Jefer-
son Davis, in which General Grant is re-
ferred to in complimentary sort of way, as
a man who made war like gentleman and
q soldier, and was never guilty of arson or
pill ege, or, what is about the same thing,
nevsr authorize cd or encouraged those crimes.
cannot believe that the letter in question
was written by Mr.. Davis, for although one
of the most magnanimous men that ever
lived, he was also one OF the most truthful.
l. is difficult to believe that he had forgot
ten the wholesale nerpetrstion OF the crimes
mentioned, in the Valley of Virginia. in the
fall of 1864, When nearly ali OF the news
papers between Canada and the Gulf of
Mexico were agonizing over the illness OF
General Sheridan, and most of them giving
him credit L for the qualities and virtues of
demi god, distinctly remember seeing the
publication Of the order, or orders of Grant
to Sheridan just prior to that most heinons
affair, that to certain extent e9onerated
Sheridan and threw the chief responsibility
o
but brute would have executed such an
order, but that does not relieve General
Grant Of the odium. I have frequently
heard men, whose veracity was beyond all
question, and who witnessed the facts, speak
Of the scenes that occurred Oh that memora.
BILE occasion as enough to draw tears from
stone Helpless women and little children,
the aged, she sick aud the dying, shivering
by the ashes of their homes, without food;
even the mich cows that fed the children
driven off, or killed, and the people without
clothing except what they had on their backs.
Ia many instances the wearing apparel and
bed clothing suatched from the burning
house by the desparing inmates seized by
the 6ends who called themselves soldiers,
and either carried off or thrown back into
the flames, with threats that if the poor pee
pie did not submit and keep quiet they
should share the same fate. All this in
obedience to Grants order, Lay the Valley
SO utterly waste that crow in flying over
1t will have to carry his rRtions." 1t is in
credible that Mr.. Davis should have forgot
ten all this; if go, we must presume he also,
forgot what suppose is mstter of history;
at least it came from che highest authority
during the war, and l have never heard it
contrsdicted. When Jefferson Davis was
Secretary OF the War hiram Ulysse6 Grant,
a tacky 2nd lieutenant in the United States
army, YVES tried by court mar ial and found
guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman, the penalty for which was dis
missal from the service. Secretary Davis,
out ofthe kindness and goodness OF his heart,
suppressed the proceedings of the court and
allowed Hiram Ulysses to resign hia com.
mission. In 1865 when President Davis
was chained in dungeon like wild beast,
and treated in the most inhuDan manner,
General Grant was the most influential per
son in the United States. That he ever said
word to mitigate the horrors of the wan
ton and undeseryed punishment has never
been suspected. Well, we are commanded
not to speak evil of dignitaries; and compsrl
sons are odious.. To compare Hyperion to
Satyr" was hard on the Satyr, but for all
that, the truth of history ought to be vim
tiicated, f.