Replies

It is on my Kindle, which presents a problem, since I have not seen it or unpacked it from my last out of town trip. When found, it will prob. need to be charged. When I recover it, I will get back to you.

Finally found my Kindle and charged the batteries up enough to use.

Here is the quote from Sherman's letter to H.W. Halleck, Commander In Chief, Washington, D.C.

"I would deem it very unwise at this time, or for years to come, to revive the government of Louisiana. etc or to institute in this quarter any civil government in which the local people have much to say. They had a government so mild and paternal they gradually forgot they had any at all, save what they themselves controlled; they asserted an absolute right to seize public moneys, forts, arms, and even to shut up natural avenues of travel and commerce. They chose war, they ignored and denied all the obligations of the solemn contract of government and appealed to force.

We have accepted the issue and now they begin to realize that war is a two edged sword, and it may are that many of the inhabitants cry for peace. I know them well, and the very impulses of their nature; and to deal with the inhabitants of that part of the south which borders on the great river, we must recognize the classes in to which they have divided themselves.

First there are the large planters, owning lands, slaves, and all kinds of personal property. These are, on the whole the ruling class. They are educated, wealthy, and easily, approached. In some districts they are bitter as gall and have given up slaves, plantations, and all, serving in the armies of the confederacy; whereas in others they are conservative.

None dare admit a friendship for us, though they say freely that they were at the outset opposed to war and disunion. I know we can manage this class, but only by action. Argument is exhausted, and words have lost their usual meaning. Nothing but the logic of events touches their understanding; but of late, it has worked a wonderful change. If our country were like Europe crowded with people, I would say it would be easier to replace this class than to reconstruct it, subordinate to the policy of the nation; but as this is not the case, it is better to allow the planters with individual exceptions, gradually to recover their plantations, to hire any species of labor, and to adapt themselves to the new order of things. Still their friendship and assistance to reconstruct order out of the present ruin cannot be depended on. They watch the operations of our armies, and hope still for a Southern Confederacy that will restore to them the slaves and privileges which they fell are otherwise lost forever."

That is the quote I'm thinking of. And as I suspected, you badly exaggerated Sherman's intent because you ignore the passage which follows:

"In my judgment, we have two more battles to win before we should even bother our minds with the idea of restoring civil order...When these are done, then, and not until then, will the planters of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, submit. Slavery is already gone, and, to cultivate the land, negro or other labor must be hired. This, of itself, if a vast revolution, and time must be afforded to to allow men to adjust their minds and habits to the new order of things."

These are, I assume, the same men you just claimed Sherman wanted to destroy or replace?