memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第29章
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manliness to oppose it。 A major…general in the United States Army； and yet not one word to utter against rebels or the rebellion！ I had much respect for McClellan before he became a politician； but very little after reading his letter accepting the nomination。
Hooker certainly made a mistake in leaving before the capture of Atlanta。 I understand that； when here； he said that you would fail； your army was discouraged and dissatisfied； etc。； etc。 He is most unmeasured in his abuse of me。 I inclose you a specimen of what he publishes in Northern papers； wherever he goes。 They are dictated by himself and written by W。 B。 and such worthies。 The funny part of the business is； that I had nothing whatever to do with his being relieved on either occasion。 Moreover； I have never said any thing to the President or Secretary of War to injure him in the slightest degree； and he knows that perfectly well。 His animosity arises from another source。 He is aware that I know some things about his character and conduct in California； and； fearing that I may use that information against him； he seeks to ward off its effect by making it appear that I am his personal enemy； am jealous of him； etc。 I know of no other reason for his hostility to me。 He is welcome to abuse me as much as he pleases； I don't think it will do him much good； or me much harm。 I know very little of General Howard； but believe him to be a true； honorable man。 Thomas is also a noble old war…horse。 It is true； as you say； that he is slow； but he is always sure。
I have not seen General Grant since the fall of Atlanta； and do not know what instructions he has sent you。 I fear that Canby has not the means to do much by way of Mobile。 The military effects of Banks's disaster are now showing themselves by the threatened operations of Price & Co。 toward Missouri； thus keeping in check our armies west of the Mississippi。
With many thanks for your kind letter； and wishes for your future success； yours truly；
H。 W。 HALLECK。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI ATLANTA； GEORGIA； September 20； 1864。
Major General HALLECK； Chief of Staff； Washington D。C。
GENERAL： I have the honor herewith to submit copies of a correspondence between General Hood； of the Confederate Army； the Mayor of Atlanta； and myself； touching the removal of the inhabitants of Atlanta。
In explanation of the tone which marks some of these letters； I will only call your attention to the fact that； after I had announced my determination； General Hood took upon himself to question my motives。 I could not tamely submit to such impertinence； and I have also seen that； in violation of all official usage； he has published in the Macon newspapers such parts of the correspondence as suited his purpose。 This could have had no other object than to create a feeling on the part of the people； but if he expects to resort to such artifices； I think I can meet him there too。
It is sufficient for my Government to know that the removal of the inhabitants has been made with liberality and fairness； that it has been attended with no force； and that no women or children have suffered； unless for want of provisions by their natural protectors and friends。
My real reasons for this step were：
We want all the houses of Atlanta for military storage and occupation。
We want to contract the lines of defense； so as to diminish the garrison to the limit necessary to defend its narrow and vital parts； instead of embracing； as the lines now do； the vast suburbs。 This contraction of the lines； with the necessary citadels and redoubts； will make it necessary to destroy the very houses used by families as residences。
Atlanta is a fortified town； was stubbornly defended； and fairly captured。 As captors； we have a right to it。
The residence here of a poor population would compel us； sooner or later； to feed them or to see them starve under our eyes。
The residence here of the families of our enemies would be a temptation and a means to keep up a correspondence dangerous and hurtful to our cause； a civil population calls for provost…guards； and absorbs the attention of officers in listening to everlasting complaints and special grievances that are not military。
These are my reasons； and； if satisfactory to the Government of the United States； it makes no difference whether it pleases General Hood and his people or not。 I am； with respect； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； ATLANTA； GEORGIA； September 7； 1864。
General HOOD； commanding Confederate Army。
GENERAL： I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove； those who prefer it to go south； and the rest north。 For the latter I can provide food and transportation to points of their election in Tennessee； Kentucky； or farther north。 For the former I can provide transportation by cars as far as Rough and Ready； and also wagons； but； that their removal may be made with as little discomfort as possible； it will be necessary for you to help the familes from Rough and Ready to the care at Lovejoy's。 If you consent； I will undertake to remove all the families in Atlanta who prefer to go south to Rough and Ready； with all their movable effects； viz。； clothing； trunks； reasonable furniture； bedding； etc。； with their servants； white and black； with the proviso that no force shall be used toward the blacks； one way or the other。 If they want to go with their masters or mistresses； they may do so； otherwise they will be sent away； unless they be men； when they may be employed by our quartermaster。 Atlanta is no place for families or non…combatants； and I have no desire to send them north if you will assist in conveying them south。 If this proposition meets your views； I will consent to a truce in the neighborhood of Rough and Ready； stipulating that any wagons； horses； animals； or persons sent there for the purposes herein stated； shall in no manner be harmed or molested； you in your turn agreeing that any care； wagons； or carriages； persons or animals sent to the same point； shall not be interfered with。 Each of us might send a guard of； say； one hundred men； to maintain order； and limit the truce to； say； two days after a certain time appointed。
I have authorized the mayor to choose two citizens to convey to you this letter； with such documents as the mayor may forward in explanation； and shall await your reply。 I have the honor to be your obedient servant。
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
Major General W。 T。 SHERMAN； commanding United States Forces in Georgia
GENERAL： Your letter of yesterday's date； borne by James M。 Ball and James R。 Crew； citizens of Atlanta； is received。 You say therein； 〃I deem it to be to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove；〃 etc。 I do not consider that I have any alternative in this matter。 I therefore accept your proposition to declare a trace of two days； or such time as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose mentioned； and shall render all assistance in my power to expedite the transportation of citizens in this direction。 I suggest that a staff…officer be appointed by you to superintend the removal from the city to Rough and Ready； while I appoint a like officer to control their removal farther south； that a guard of one hundred men be sent by either party as you propose； to maintain order at that place； and that the removal begin on Monday next。
And now； sir； permit me to say that the unprecedented measure you propose transcends； in studied and ingenious cruelty； all acts ever before brought to my attention in the dark history of war。
In the name of God and humanity； I protest； believing that you will find that you are expelling from their homes and firesides the wives and children of a brave people。 I am； general； very respectfully； your obedient servant；
J。 B。 HOOD； General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； ATLANTA； GEORGIA； September 10； 1864。
General J。 B。 HOOD； commanding Army of Tennessee； Confederate Arm
