The National tribune., 1906-06-14

was, unfortunately, too late in
his discovery; the appetite for
plunder had become so inordi-
nate that his proclamation was
disregarded by his allies, and he
was subsequently forced 10
threaten extreme measures. in
order to check the partisan war;
fare which initiated the cruelties
and horrors he deplored. This
is the unquestionaDie interpreta-
ton of the subjoined passage:
"A sullen obedience followed,
but the plundering system was
soon renewed, and this. with the
mischief already done, was
enough to arouse the inhabitants
of Bedary. as well as those of
the Val-de-Baigorre, into action.
They commenced and continued
a partisan warfare until Lord
wellington. incensed by their ac-
tivity. issued proclamation
calling upon them to take arms
openly and join Soult. or stay
peaceably at home, declaring
that he would otherwise burn
their villages and hang all the
inhabitants" (Peninsular War,
B.XXIII. Chap. 81
The inhabitants of Atlanta
gave no such cause for action
on the part of Gen. Sherman,
nor was the safety of the Fed
eral army in any manner in
volved. Nevertheless, he ordered
women and children. the infirm
and the sick-in fact, the entire
population-to go either North
or South.
The subioined appeal of the
Mayor and Councilmen of At
lanta was powerless to alter the
determination of the Federal
commander:
Atlanta. Ga, Sept. II, 1864.
Maj. Gen. w. T. Sherman.
"Sir: We, the undersigned,
Mayor and two of the Council
for the city of Atlanta, for the
time being the only legal organ
of the people of the said city. to
ask leave most earnestly but re-
spectfully to petition you to re-
consider the order requiring
them TO leaVe Atlanta.
"At first view it struck US that
the measure woulG involve ex-
traordinary hardship and loss;
but since We have seen the prac-
teal execution of it, so far as ii
has progressed. and the individ-
ual condition of the people, and
heard their statements as to the
Inconvenience, loss and suffer-
ing attending it, we are satisfied
that the amount of 1t will in
volve in the aggregate conse-
quenceS appalling and heart
rending.
Many poor women are in ad-
vanced state of pregnancy. 9TH
ers now having young children,
and whose husbands for the
greater part. are either in the
army, prisoners or dead.
Some say: I have such a one
sick at my house; who will wait
on them when / am gone? 9th
ers say: What are we to doH
We have no house to go to. and
no means to buy. build or
rent any; no parents. relatives or
to go to- Another says: L will
take this or that article of pr
but such and such things / mus
behind, though / need them muc
reply to them: Gen. Sherman vii
your property to Rough and Reat
Gen. Hood will take it thence on
they will reply to that: But | '
leave the railroad at such a plai
cannot get conveyance from the
1--WE only refer to a few facts,
to illustrate in part how this n
VIII operate in practice. AS y
vanced the people north of II
back, and before your arrival
large portion of the people had
South; so that the country south
is already crowded. and without
enough to accommodate the peop
we are informed that many al
staying in churches and othe
buildings.
This. being SO, how is it posi-
the people still here (mostly WON
children) to find any shelter? Al
can they live through the VIII
the woods-no shelter or subsiste
the midst of strangers who know
not, and without the power to
them much, if they were willing
so.
This is but a feeble picture
consequences of this measure
know the woe, the horrors and t
ferings cannot be described by
imagination can only conceive
we ask you to take these thini
consideration.