memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第31章
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gation。 You say we seized upon your forts and arsenals； and made prisoners of the garrisons sent to protect us against negroes and Indians。 The truth is； we； by force of arms； drove out insolent intruders and took possession of our own forts and arsenals； to resist your claims to dominion over masters； slaves； and Indians； all of whom are to this day； with a unanimity unexampled in the history of the world； warring against your attempts to become their masters。 You say that we tried to force Missouri and Kentucky into rebellion in spite of themselves。 The truth is； my Government； from the beginning of this struggle to this hour； has again and again offered； before the whole world； to leave it to the unbiased will of these States； and all others； to determine for themselves whether they will cast their destiny with your Government or ours； and your Government has resisted this fundamental principle of free institutions with the bayouet； and labors daily； by force and fraud； to fasten its hateful tyranny upon the unfortunate freemen of these States。 You say we falsified the vote of Louisiana。 The truth is； Louisiana not only separated herself from your Government by nearly a unanimous vote of her people； but has vindicated the act upon every battle…field from Gettysburg to the Sabine； and has exhibited an heroic devotion to her decision which challenges the admiration and respect of every man capable of feeling sympathy for the oppressed or admiration for heroic valor。 You say that we turned loose pirates to plunder your unarmed ships。 The truth is； when you robbed us of our part of the navy； we built and bought a few vessels； hoisted the flag of our country； and swept the seas； in defiance of your navy； around the whole circumference of the globe。 You say we have expelled Union families by thousands。 The truth is； not a single family has been expelled from the Confederate States； that I am aware of； but； on the contrary； the moderation of our Government toward traitors has been a fruitful theme of denunciation by its enemies and well…meaning friends of our cause。 You say my Government； by acts of Congress； has confiscated 〃all debts due Northern men for goods sold and delivered。〃 The truth is； our Congress gave due and ample time to your merchants and traders to depart from our shores with their ships； goods； and effects； and only sequestrated the property of our enemies in retaliation for their actsdeclaring us traitors； and confiscating our property wherever their power extended； either in their country or our own。 Such are your accusations； and such are the facts known of all men to be true。
You order into exile the whole population of a city； drive men； women and children from their homes at the point of the bayouet； under the plea that it is to the interest of pour Government； and on the claim that it is an act of kindness to these families of Atlanta。〃 Butler only banished from New Orleans the registered enemies of his Government； and acknowledged that he did it as a punishment。 You issue a sweeping edict； covering all the inhabitants of a city； and add insult to the injury heaped upon the defenseless by assuming that you have done them a kindness。 This you follow by the assertion that you will 〃make as much sacrifice for the peace and honor of the South as the best…born Southerner。〃 And； because I characterize what you call as kindness as being real cruelty； you presume to sit in judgment between me and my God； and you decide that my earnest prayer to the Almighty Father to save our women and children from what you call kindness； is a 〃sacrilegious； hypocritical appeal。〃
You came into our country with your army； avowedly for the purpose of subjugating free white men； women； and children； and not only intend to rule over them； but you make negroes your allies； and desire to place over us an inferior race； which we have raised from barbarism to its present position； which is the highest ever attained by that race； in any country； in all time。 I must； therefore； decline to accept your statements in reference to your kindness toward the people of Atlanta； and your willingness to sacrifice every thing for the peace and honor of the South； and refuse to be governed by your decision in regard to matters between myself； my country； and my God。
You say； 〃Let us fight it out like men。〃 To this my reply isfor myself； and I believe for all the free men； ay； and women and children； in my countrywe will fight you to the death！ Better die a thousand deaths than submit to live under you or your Government and your negro allies！
Having answered the points forced upon me by your letter of the 9th of September； I close this correspondence with you； and； notwithstanding your comments upon my appeal to God in the cause of humanity； I again humbly and reverently invoke his almighty aid in defense of justice and right。 Respectfully； your obedient servant；
J。 B。 HOOD； General。
ATLANTA； GEORGIA； September 11； 1864 Major…General 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 express their wants and wishes； ask leave most earnestly but respectfully to petition you to reconsider the order requiring them to leave Atlanta。
At first view； it struck us that the measure world involve extraordinary hardship and loss； but since we have seen the practical execution of it so far as it has progressed； and the individual condition of the people； and heard their statements as to the inconveniences； loss； and suffering attending it； we are satisfied that the amount of it will involve in the aggregate consequences appalling and heart…rending。
Many poor women are in advanced state of pregnancy； others 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 I am gone？〃 Others say： 〃What are we to do？ We have no house to go to； and no means to buy； build； or rent any； no parents； relatives； or friends； to go to。〃 Another says： 〃I will try and take this or that article of property； but such and such things I must leave behind； though I need them much。〃 We reply to them： 〃General Sherman will carry your property to Rough and Ready； and General Hood will take it thence on。〃 And they will reply to that： 〃But I want to leave the railroad at such a place； and cannot get conveyance from there on。〃
We only refer to a few facts； to try to illustrate in part how this measure will operate in practice。 As you advanced； the people north of this fell back； and before your arrival here； a large portion of the people had retired south； so that the country south of this is already crowded； and without houses enough to accommodate the people； and we are informed that many are now staying in churches and other out…buildings。
This being so； how is it possible for the people still here （mostly women and children） to find any shelter？ And how can they live through the winter in the woodsno shelter or subsistence； in the midst of strangers who know them not； and without the power to assist them much； if they were willing to do so？
This is but a feeble picture of the consequences of this measure。 You know the woe； the horrors； and the suffering； cannot be described by words； imagination can only conceive of it； and we ask you to take these things into consideration。
We know your mind and time are constantly occupied with the duties of your command； which almost deters us from asking your attention to this matter； but thought it might be that you had not considered this subject in all of its awful consequences； and that on more reflection you； we hope； would not make this people an exception to all mankind； for we know of no such instance ever having occurred surely never in the United Statesand what has this helpless people done； that they should be driven from their homes； to wander strangers and outcasts； and exiles； and to subsist on charity？
We do not know as yet the number of people still here； of those who are here； we are satisfied a respectable number； if allowed to remain a
