HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION
OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA,
GEORGIA, September 7th, 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
further 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
families from Rough and Ready to the cars 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 moveable 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 another. 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
quarter-master. 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 cars, 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 (100) 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
(Sent by Messrs. Ball and Crew.)
SOURCES: John Bell Hood, Advance
and Retreat, p. 229-30; he War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 38, Part
5 (Serial No. 76), p. 822
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