The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-15

q division now, il will not stop, but will go on
until we reap the fate of Mexico. winch is
eternal war, The United States does and must
assert its authority, wherever il once had
power: for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it
is gone and believe that such is the National
feeling This feeling assumes various shapes,
but always comes back to that of Union. Once
admit the Union, once more acknowledge the
authority of the National Government. and,
instead of devoting your houses and streets and
roads to the dread uses of war, / and this army
become at once your protectors and supporters.
shielding you from danger, let it come from
what quarter il may. 1 know that q few an
dividuals cannot resist a torrent OF error and
passion. such as swept the South into rebellion,
but you can point out, so that we may know
those who desire Government, and those who
insist on war and its desolation.
You might as well appeal against the thunder
storm as against these terrible hardships of war.
They are inevitable, and the only way the peo-
ple of Atlanta can hope once more to live In
peace and quiet at home. is to stop the war,
which can emily be done by admitting that it
began in error and is perpetuated in pride.
We don't want your negroes. or your horses
or your houses, or your lands or anything you
have but we do want and will have a just
obedience to the laws of the United States
That we will have, and, if it involves the de-
struction of your Improvements, we cannot
help it.
You have heretofore read public sentiment
in your newspapers that live by falsehood and
excitement and the quicker you seek for truth
in other quarters the better. / repeat then
that, by the original compact of Government,
the United States had certain rights in,Georgia,
which have never been reiinquished and never
will be: that the South began war by selzing
forts arsenals, mints, customhouses, ETC.. long
before Mr.. Lincoln was installed, and before
the South had one jot or little of provocation.
i myself have seen in Missouri, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Mississippi hundreds aud thou
sands of women and children feeing from your
armies and desperadoes. hungry and with bleed
ing feet. In Memphis, Ficksburg and Missis-
sippi we fed thousands upon thousands of the
families of rebel soldiers left on our hands, and
whom we could not see starye. Now that war
comes home to you, you feel very different.
You deprecate ifs horrors, but did not feel them
when you sent car-loRds of soldiers and anmu-
milton and nodded shells and shot to carry war
Into Kentucky and Tennessee, to desolate the
homes of hundreds and thousands of good
people who ouly asked TO live in peace at their
old homes and under the Government Of their
snheritsnce. But these comparisons are idle.
want peace, and believe it can only be reached
through Union and war, and will ever con-
duct war with view 10 perfect and early sue
cess.
yon may call on me for anything. Then viii
share with you the last cracker. and watch
with you TO shield your homes and families
against danger from every quarter.
Now you must go, and take with you the old
and feeble feed and nurse them, and build for
them. in more quiet places. proper habitations
10 shield them against the weather until the
mad passions of men cool down, and allow the
Union and peace once more TO settle over your
oid homes at Atlanta. Yours in haste,
w. Z. SHERMAN. Major General commanding.
SHERMAN CLOSES THE CORRESPONDENCE.
HEape'Rs MILITARY Division OF THE1
MISSISSIPPI, in THE FIELD, ATLANTA,
GA. Sept. IA. 1864.
Gen. }. 3. HooD, commanding Army Of the
Tennessee Confederate Army
GENERAL: Yours OF Sept. 18th is received,
and has been carefully perased. agree with
yeu that this discussion by two soldiers is snt
of place, and proftless; but you must admit
that you began the controversy by characteriE-
ing m official act of mine in unfair and imprep
~ terms. ] reiferzte fny former answer and
90 the only new matter contained in your re-
loinder add We have no negro allies in
this srmy; not Q single negro soldier left
Chattanooga with this army, or is with it
now. There are few guarding Chattanooga,
which Gen. Steedman sent at one time to drive
Wheeler out of Dalton.
i was not bound by the laws of war to give
notice Of the Smelling of Atlanta, fortified
town, with magazines. arsenals, founderies, and
public stores" you were bound to take notice.
See the books.
This is the conclusion of our correspondence.
which 4 Gid not begin. and terminate with
satisfaction. am, with respect, your obedieut
servant,
W. 7 SHERMAN, Msior-General commanding.
HALLEcK APPROVES
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Sept 26, 1861.
Ma. Gen. SHERMAN, Atlanta, Ca
GENERAL: Your communications of the Goth
IN regard TO the removal Of families from
Atlanta. and the exchange of prisoners. and
also the official report of yonr campaign, are
just received. 1 have not had time as vet to
examine your report. The course which you
have pursued in removing rebel families from
Atlanta, and in the exchange of prisoners is
fully approved by the War Department. Not
only are you justified by the laws and usages
OF war an removing these people, but think
II was your duty to your own army to do So
Moreover. I am fully of opinion that the
nature Of your position. the character of the
war. the conduct of the enemy iand especially
OF non-combatants and women Of the territory
which we have heretofore conquered and
the forage and provisions which your army
may require both for a siege Of Atlanta and
for your supply ip your march farther into the
eneHy's country. Let the disloyal families of
the country, thus stripped, 20 TO their hus.
bands, fathers and natural protectors in the
rebel ranks; we have tried three wears Of con.
ciliation and kindness without any reciproca-
tion on the contrary, those thus treated have
acted as spies and gnerriiias in our rear and
within our lines. The safety of our armies
and a proper regard for the lives of our
soldiers, require that We apply TO our inexor
Sble foes the severe rules Of war We certainly
are not required TO treat the so-called non-com-
Blatant rebels better than they themselves treat
each other. Even here in Virginia. within
% miles OF Washington, they strip their own
1smiiies OF provisions, leaving them, as cur
army advances to be FED by Us, or 60 etarye
within our lines. We have fed this class of
people long enough. Let them 60 with their
husbands and fathers IN the rebel ranks. and
IL they won't CO. We must send them TO their
friends and natural protectors / would de-
stroy every mill and factory within rcacl,
which ] did not want for my own use. This
the rebels have done. not only ia Maryland
and Pennsylvania, but also in Virginia and
oiher rebel States when compelled TO fall back
before our armies. In many sections of the
country they have not left mill to grind
gram Tor their own suffering families, lest we
might use them 70 supply our armies. We
must do ihe same
have eadeayored to impress these views
upon our com mmsnders for the last two wears
You are almost the only one who las properly an
Piled them. do not approve of Gen. Hupfers
coarse az burning private houses or uselessly
destroying private property. That is barharous.