Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/445

 444 Southern Historical Society Papers.

women can find employment in Indiana. This whole region was de- voted to manufactories, but I will destroy every one of them."

There are two points especially worth notice in this dispatch. The first, that since these men and women, by reason of sex, or otherwise, are exempt from conscription, they are therefore as much subject to the rules of war as if in the ranks. Why not do less violence to logic, and state frankly that factory hands were in demand in Indiana? The next point is, that the Rosswell factories, whether French prop- erty or not, were destroyed because they were making cloth for the Confederate government, followed presently by the declaration that every manufactory in that region shall be destroyed, evidently with- out reference to its products or their destination. How much franker it would have been to have added to his last sentence, " and thus get rid of so many competitors to the factories of the North.' ' The South must learn that while she may bear the burden of protective tariffs, she must not presume to share their benefits. Another dispatch to General Halleck, of July gth, again refers to these factories. After referring to the English and French ownership, comes this remark : " I take it a neutral is no better than one of our own citizens, and we would not respect the property of one of our own citizens engaged in supplying a hostile army." This is the kind of logic proverbially used by the masters of legions.

A dispatch to General Halleck of July i3th, gives General Sher- man's opinion of two great and philanthropic institutions. Speaking of " fellows hanging about" the army, he says: "The Sanitary and Christian Commissions are enough to eradicate all trace of Christian- ity from our minds."

July i4th, to General J. E. Smith, at Alatoona: " If you entertain a bare suspicion against any family, send it to the North. Any loafer or suspicious person seen at any time should be imprisoned and sent off. If guerillas trouble the road or wires they should be shot with- out mercy."

September 8. To General Webster, after the capture of Atlanta : "Don't let any citizens come to Atlanta; not one. I won't allow trade or manufactures of any kind, but will remove all the present population, and make Atlanta a pure military town." To General Halleck he writes, " I am not willing to have Atlanta encumbered by the families of our enemies." Of this wholesale depopulation, Gen- eral Hood complained, by flag of truce, as cruel and contrary to the usages of civilized nations, and customs of war, receiving this cour- teous and gentlemanly reply (September 12) " I think I understand