The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-07-27
HisToRic DOCUMENTS.
Letters That Show the villainy Of Sher-
man as Well as the True Bravery OF
Eampfnn

passed between Gen. Sherman and
Gen. Hampton that were puhlihed in
the Augusta Chronicle SUNDAY last.
The documents also have a historic
value and should be preserved
The following correspondence be-
tween General Sherman, the modern
Duke of Alva, and General Wade
Hampton, should he of interest to the
Young men, not only Of the South,
but of the North as well. 1t shows
something of the firm and desperate
determination Of the Confederate sol
diers 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
correspondence was an outrage COM
mitted at baskerville by a lieutenant
in Shermau's army, who was O o af-
terward shot f0r. it. He killed the
father of the house and the outrage
following, left the beautiful daughter
a white-haired imbeclle.
1t is because of outrages like this
that Southern men cannot understand
why some Northern people greet
Southern guests with the air, March.
ing Through Geogia." They seem to
think it appropriate. They would
not if they knew the inhuman deeds
it recalls.
Headquarters in the Field, Feb. Oath,
1865.
Lieutenant General Wade Hampton,
Commanding Calvary Forces Con-
fedprate States Army.
General: 1t il officially reported to
me that our foraging parties are MUIR
der"d after capture aud labeled "Deafb
to all foragers." One Instance of a lieu
tenant aud even men lear Chester
Vile, and another of twenty, "near a
ravine eighty rods from the main
road.n about three miles from Feaster-
vile. I have ordered a similar num-
Der of prisoners in our hands to be
disposed of in like manner. l hold
about 1000, prisoners, captured IN va
rious ways, and can stand it as long
as you, and would suggest that you
give notice to the people at large That
every life taken by them simply re-
suits in the death of n your Confed-
crates. OF course, you cannot question
my right Ito forage on the country"
1T is a war right as old history. The
manner of exercising it varies with
circumstances, and if civil authorities
will supply my acquisitions L will for
bid all foraging. Butt can find no
civil authorities who can respond tn
my calls for forage or provisions;
therefore, 1 must collect directly Of
the people. I hav: no doubt this is
the occasion of much misbehavior Oh
the part of our men but L cannot per-
NIT an enemy to judge or punish with
wholesale murder. Personally, l re
gret the bitter feelings engendered by
This war, but they are to be expected,
and simply alIege that those who
struck the first blow and made war
inevitable, ought not in fairness to re-
proach US for natural consequences.
I merely assert my war right to forage
and my resolve to protect my foragers
to the extent of life for life.
1 am with respect, your obedlenl
servant, W. r. SHERMAN,
Major General United States Army.
TO this bonbastic illumination Cen
eral Hampton returned the following
answer:
Headquarters in the Field, Feb.
26th, 1850.
Major General w. T. Sherman,
United States Army. .
General: Your communication OF
the oath. instant reached ME today.
In it you officially reported that your
foraging parties are murdered after
You 60 on to say that you
have "ordered q similar number of
prisoners in our hands to be disposed
of in like manuer," that is 10 say you
have ordered a number of Confederate
soldiers to be murdered" You
characterize your order in proper
terms, for the public voice, even in
your own country, where lt seluom
dare4 to express in v~indlcatlon OF
ruth, honor, or justice will surely
agree will you 70 prOnourclpg you
guilty of murder if your order ID car
ripd ont. Before dismissiug this por-
ton of your letter, | beg to'assure you
for every soldier of mine "mur
by you, 1 shall have executed
at once two of yours, giving III all
cases preference 10 any officers who
be in my hands.
In reference t6 the statement you
regarding the death OF your
| have only to say that |
know nothing about it; that no orders
yiven by me authorize the killing OF
prisoners after capture, and that L DO
not believe my men killed any OF
yours, except under circumstances in
which it was perfectly legitimate and
that they should Kill them. 1t
IS q part OF The system OF thieves,
whom you designate az your foragers,
to fire the dwellings of those citizens
whom they have robbed. 10 check
this inhuman system, which is justly
pxecrated by every civilized nation, L
directed my men 10 shoot down
of YOUR men caught burning
noises. This order shall renain III
force as long you disgrace the profess
lion of arms by allowing your men to
DESTROY private dwellings.
You say that | cannot of course ques
lion YOUR right to forage on the ceun-
trv-s'as it is as.old as history" 90
not, sir, question this right. But
here is a right older even than this,
and one more alienable-the right
hat every mai has to defend his home
Ind nrotcct those who are dependent
,,I fran, my hnnrI wish