The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-03-20
TWO HISTORIC DOCUMENTS.
Wade Hampton's E1oqent Reply
to Sherman's Infamous Letter.

The following correspondence be-
tween General Sherman, the modern
Duke Of Alva, and General Wade
Hampton, should be Of interest to the
young men, not only of the South, but
OF the North as we'll. 1t shows some
thing of the firm and desperate deter
mlnatlon of the Confederate soldiers
to protect the honor of Southern ladies
even at the risk of war to the death.
The incident to which allusion is
made by General Hampton in this COR
respondence was an outrage committed
at Feastervllle by lieutenant in Shcr-
mans army, who was soon afterward
shot for it. He killed the father of
the house and the outrage which fol-
lowed left the beautiful daughter a
white-haired imbecifu.
1t is because of outragGs like this
that Southern men cannot understand
why some Northern people greet
Southern guests with the air, " March
ing Through Georgia" They seem to
think it appropriate. They would not
if they knew what inhuman deeds il re-
calls:
Headquarters in the Field, Feb.
24lh, 1865.
Lieutenant General Wade Hampton,
Commanding Calvary Forces Con
federate States Army.
General: 1t is officially reported to
me that our foraging parties are mur-
dcred after capture and labeled "Death
to all foragcrs." One instance of a
lieutenant and seven men near Ches-
terville, and another of twenty "near
a ravine eighty rods from the main
road," about three miles from Feast.
erville. l have ordered similar nun.
ber of prisoners in our hands TO be dis
posed of in like manner. l hold about
l, 900 prisoners, captured in various
ways, and can stand it as long rs you
and would suggest that you give notice
to the people at large that every life
taken by them simply results in the
death of ono of your Confcdcratcs. OF
course, you cannot question my right
10 "foragc on the country" 1t is war
right as old as history. The manner of
exercising it varies with circumstances
and if the civil authorities will supply
my acquisitions l will forbid all forag.
ing. But can find no civil athorities
who can respond to my calls for forage
or provisions; therefore, l must collect
directly of the people. L have nc
doubt this is the occasion of mucl
mlsbehavior on the part of our men
but cannot permit an enemy to Judge
or punish with wholesale murder. Per
sonally, [ regret the bitter feelings en-
gendered by this war, but they wer,
to be expected, and L simply allcg,
that those who struck the first bl8y
and made war inevitable, ought not il
fairness to reproach us for the natura
consequences. merely assert ou
war right to forage and my resolve t
protect my foragers to the extent O
life for life.
l am, with respect, your obedlen
servant. w. II. SHERMAN,
Major General United States Army.
TO this bombastic illumination Ger
cral Hampton returned the followin
, answer:
Headquarters in the Field, Feb. q
1865.
Major General w. r. Sherman, Unite
States Army.
: General: Your communication
t the Oath instant reached me toda
I In 1t you state that it has been official
reported that your foraging parties a
murdered after capture. You 90
r to say that you have "ordered simil
+ number of prisoners in our hands to
i disposed of in like Manner" that Is
|. eav Won have orIorad pnp,hor
8 Confederate soldiers to be "murdered
Q You characterize your order in prop
Q terms, for the public voice, even
l. your own country, where it seldc
t, dares to express itself in vindication
At truth, honor, or justice will sure
70 agree with you in pronouncing y
K guilty of murder if your order
ct carried out. Before dismissing u
ut portion Of your letter, beg to ass,