Year: 1868

en- Letter From Gen Rosecrans to Gen. Lee.
IS The following the letter addressed by Gen. Rose
ne Grams to Gen Lee: ..Z
IT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, V2GINIA, 4
Il ~ $s r@@ August 2. 1865
Us General-Ful of soIicitude for the future of on
. country, come with my heart in my hand to learl


the condition. wishes and intentions OF the people


the Southern States especially to ascertain the sentl
! menis OF those brave energetic and self sacrificing


men, whose trusted and beloved leader you have been
who after sustaining their confidence for four years


laid down their arms and allegiance to the Coy
: ernment of the United States.


= see thatnterpreng States rights to conflict with


national unity has produced violent REACTION against


hem which is drifting towards constellation; aud


also that so great country ours, even now is


tain to be- have State governments to attendto


local Details go further and fare worse. It's plain


of the West and North that the continuance of


semi anarchy, such as has existed for the last three


years ten States of Union largely increases the
Il danger of eentralisaton, swells the national expendi


tures, dnlinishessour productions and our revenue,


INSPIRES doubts OF our political and financial stability,


depreciaes the value of national bonds and


rency and places the credit of the richest below that
j of the poorest nation in christendom We know that


currency must be deprecated SO long bonds


are below par and that therefore the vast business


and commerce Of country must suffer the terrible


evil Of tuctuating standard of value until can
j remedy the evil condition of things at the South. We


also see other mischief quite possible if not probable,


to arise, such as failure of the crops local insur


rectiou and many other unforeseen contingencies which


may still more depreciate credit and currency,


provoke discomfort and disorder among people, I


and bring detagogica agitation, revolution, repudia-


tion and thousand unnamed evils and vilanies
/ We know that the interests Of the people of the


Sout' for law and order, and they must share


fate of good aud ILL., Ibelieve and every one know,


who reflects believes that if Lhe people of the South
States could be and their and |
good will heartily applied to repair the waste OF war,


reorgalse their business, set the freedmen peaceaby


prosperousy and contentedy at work, invite capital,


enterprise and labor from elsewhere to come freely


among them they would soon rebuild their ruined


fortunes, multiply manifold the value of their lands


establish public confidence III stability, bring
Government bonds to premium, our currency to


gold standard, and assure for themselves and the
" hole nation a most happy and prosperous future


Seeing this and how all just interests in the


work, ask the officers and soldiers who fought for
the tnlon ask every thinking man of the great
W est and North, / ask why it cannot be done? We r
are told by chose who have controlled the Government
the last few years. that the people OF the South will
not do it, that done all itmust be done by
the poor simple uneducated landless freedmen and
the few whites who, against the public opinion and
sentiment OF the intelligent white people, are willing
to attempt lead and make their living off these ic
norant inexperienced coored people, mostly men a
who must be needy adventures without any Of {
those attributes on which reliance for good guidance
governmennt can be placed. We are told that this
kind OF government mustbe continued at the South
until six eight million of Intelligent energetic white
people give into it or move out OF the country. q


Now, think the Union army thinks, and the peo n
pie of the North and West dare say believe there II
must be Or there ought to ce shorter way
to get good government for all. at the South. We e
know that they who organised and sustained the South
er Contederacy for four years against gigantic efforts
ought to be able to give peace law order and prolec
ton to the whole people of the South They have the
interest and the poWerto employ protect and elevate
the poor freedmen and restore themselves and our l.
country to all the blessings of which have Just spo- ~
KEN The question we want answered is are they3 N
willing to do it? come down to find what the peo-
pie of the South think Of this and to ask you what the
otfcers and soldiers who served in the Confederate
trmy and the leading people who sustained it, think
of these things? p
/ come to ask more. ! want to ask you in whose "
purity and patriotism here express unqualified con-
1dence, and as many good men you conveniently
consult say what you think it. aud also what you 81
ire willing to do about it. / written express
ZION of views that be followed by concurrence be
II action. want to know if you and the gentlemen al
Who will join in that expression willing pledge
he people OF the South to chiyalrous and magnan
nous devotion to restoring peace and prosperity
'ur common country. | to carry that pledge tn
Ugh above the level of party politics to the late Off to
ers and soldiers of the Union army and the North ell
nd West and to ask to consider it and take the be
ecessary action confident that it will meet with re- da
PSt-HS
hall see i'll its sunshine the rainbow of peace in our
olitical sky now black with clouds and impending co
torn. Inn
! know you are representative man in reverence in
nd regard for the Union, the Constitution and the au
eare of the country, and that what you would say uo
ould be indorsed BY nine enths OF the whole people We
the South but should like to have the signature De
all the representative Southern here who con- wi
ur your views and expressions of their concur tt
ence from the principal officers and representative 10
throughout the South when thew nrDcurpd
his concurrence Of opinions and will all tend peace ca
rider and stability and will Union soldiers ST.
nd business who want substantial and solid CO
eace and cause to rise above the level Of party poll th
and take such steps to meet yours will insure 90
lasting peace with all its countless blessings. Fha
Very truly, your friend, w s. RosEcRANs Oh
o Gen. r: E. Lee, White Sulphur Springs, West wi


'iS-nla. tht