In a private letter of August 29, Halleck told Sherman that the “question of reconstruction in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas will soon come up for decision of the government.” Hoping that the President would “consult opinions of cool and discreet men,” Halleck wished to solicit the views of generals who knew the region. Sherman replied from his headquarters on the Big Black River, where his corps had been resting during the extreme heat and drought of summer. Halleck later told him that Lincoln had read his letter carefully.
private and confidential
Head Qrs. 15 Army Corps.
Camp on Big Black Miss. Sept. 17. 63
Maj. Genl. Halleck, Comdr. in Chief, Washington, D.C.
Dear General,
I have received your letter of Aug. 29, and with pleasure confide to you fully my thoughts on the important matter you suggest, with absolute confidence that you will use what is valuable, and reject the useless or superfluous.
That part of the Continent of North America Known as Louisiana, Mississipi, and Arkansas is in my judgment the Key to the Whole Interior. The valley of the Mississipi is America, and although Railroads have changed the scenery of intercommunication, yet the water channels still mark the Lines of fertile land, and afford carriage to the heavy products of it. The inhabitants of the country on the Monongehela, the Illinois, the Minnesota, the Yellowstone and Osage are as directly concerned in the security of the Lower Mississipi as are those who dwell on its very banks in Louisiana, and now that the nation has recovered its possessions, this Generation of men would make a fearful mistake if we again commit its charge to a People liable to mistake their title, and assert as was recently done that because they dwelt by sufferance on the Banks of this mighty stream they had a right to control its navigation. I would deem it very unwise at this time, or for years to come, to revive the State Governments of Louisiana &c. or to institute in this Quarter any Civil Government in which the local People have much to say. They had a Government, and so mild & paternal that they gradually forgot they had any at all, save what they themselves controlled; they asserted an absolute right to seize public monies, Forts, arms, and even to Shut up the national avenues of travel & commerce. They chose War. They ignored & denied all the obligations of the Solemn Contract of Government and appealed to force.
We accepted the issue, and now they begin to realize that War is a two edged sword, and it may be 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 the Great River, we must recognise the classes into which they have naturally divided themselves.
1st 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 & all, serving in the armies of the Confederacy, whereas in others they are conservative. None dare admit a friendship to us, though they Say freely that they were opposed to disunion and war. I know we can manage this class, but only by action. Argument is exhausted, and words have not their usual meaning. Nothing but the Logic of events touches their understanding, but of late this has worked a wonderful change. If our Country were like Europe, crowded with people, I would say it would be easier to replace this population than to reconstruct it subordinate to the Policy of the Nation, but as this is not the case it is better to allow them with individual exceptions gradually to recover their plantations to hire any species of labor and 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 feel are otherwise lost forever. In my judgment we have two more battles to win before we should even bother our minds with the idea of restoring civil order, viz. one near Meridian in November, and one near Shreveport in February and March where Red River is navigable by our Gunboats. When these are done, then & not till then will the Planters of Louisiana, Arkansas & Mississipi submit. Slavery is already gone, and to cultivate the Land, negro or other labor must be hired. This of itself is a vast revolution and time must be afforded to allow men to adjust their minds and habits to the new order of things. A civil Government of the Representative type would suit this class far less than a pure Military Rule, one readily adapting itself to actual occurrences, and able to enforce its laws & orders promptly and emphatically.
2nd. The smaller farmers, mechanics, merchants and laborers:
This class will probably number ¾ of the whole, have in fact no real interest in the establishment of a Southern Confederacy, and have been led or driven into war, on the false theory that they were to be benefitted somehow, they Knew not how. They are essentially tired of the War, & would slink back home if they could. These are the real Tiers-etat of the South and are hardly worthy a thought for they swerve to & fro according to events they do not comprehend or attempt to shape. When the time for reconstruction comes, they will want the old political system, of caucuses, Legislatures &c. something to amuse them, and make them believe they are achieving wonders, but in all things they will follow blindly the lead of the Planter. The Southern Politicians who understand this class use them as the French do their masses. Seemingly consulting their prejudices they make their orders and enforce them. We should do the same.
3rd. The Union men of the South. I must confess I have little respect for this class. They allowed a clamorous set of demagogues to muzzle & drive them as a pack of curs. Afraid of shadows, they submit tamely to squads of dragoons and permit them without a murmur to burn their cotton, take their horses, corn and everything; and when we reach them, they are full of complaints, if our men take a few fence rails for firewood, or corn to feed our horses. They give us no assistance or information, and are loudest in their complaints at the smallest excess of our Soldiers. Their sons, horses arms and everything useful are in the army against us, and they stay at home claiming all the exemptions of peaceful citizens. I account them as nothing in this Great Game.
4th. The young Bloods of the South, sons of Planters, Lawyers about Town, good billiard players & sportsmen. Men who never did work, or never will. War suits them: and the rascals are brave, fine riders, bold to rashness, and dangerous subjects in every sense. They care not a “sous” for niggers, land or anything. They hate Yankees “per se” and don’t bother their brains about the Past, present or Future. As long as they have a good horse, plenty of Forage and an open Country they are happy. This is a larger class than most men suppose, and are the most dangerous set of men which this war has turned loose upon the world. They are splendid riders, shots, and utterly reckless. Stuart, John Morgan, Forrest, and Jackson are the types & leaders of this class. They must all be killed, or employed by us before we can hope for Peace. They have no property or future & therefore cannot be influenced by anything except personal considerations. I have two Brigades of these fellows to my Front, commanded by Cosby of the old army and Whitfield of Texas, Stephen D. Lee in command of the whole. I have frequent interviews with the officers, and a good understanding; and am inclined to think when the resources of their country are exhausted we must employ them. They are the best Cavalry in the world, but it will tax Mr. Chase’s Genius of Finance to supply them with horses. At present horses cost them nothing for they take where they find, and dont bother their brains, who is to pay for them. Same of the corn fields which have, as they believe been cultivated by a good natured people for their special benefit. We propose to share with them the free use of these cornfields planted by willing hands that will never gather them.
Now, that I have sketched the People who inhabit the District of Country under consideration, I will proceed to discuss the Future. A Civil Government for any part of it would be simply ridiculous. The People would not regard it, and even the Military Commanders of the antagonistic party would treat it lightly. Governors would be simply petitioners for military assistance to protect supposed friendly interests, and Military Commanders would refuse to disperse & weaken their armies for military reasons. Jealousies would arise between the two conflicting powers, and instead of contributing to the end we all have in view, would actually defer it. Therefore I contend that the interest of the United States, and of the real parties concerned, demand the continuance of the simple military Rule till long after all the organized armies of the South are dispersed, conquered and subjugated. All this Region is represented in the Army of Virginia, Charleston, Mobile and Chattanooga. They have sons & relations in each and naturally interested in their fate. Though we hold military possession of the Key Points of this country, still they contend & naturally that should Lee succeed in Virginia, or Bragg at Chattanooga, that a change would occur here also. We cannot for this reason attempt to reconstruct parts of the South as we conquer it, till all idea of the establishment of a Southern Confederacy is abandonned. We should avail ourselves of the lull here, to secure the Geographical points that give us advantage in future military movements, and Should treat the idea of Civil Government as one in which we as a nation have a Minor or subordinate interest. The opportunity is good to impress on the population the Truth that they are more interested in Civil Government than we are, and that to enjoy the protection of Laws, they must not be passive observers of events, but must aid and Sustain the constituted authorities in enforcing the Laws: they must not only submit themselves, but pay their taxes, and render personal services when called on.
It seems to me in contemplating the past two years history, all the people of our country north, south, east & west have been undergoing a Salutary Political Schooling, learning lessons which might have been taught by the History of other People; but we had all become so wise in our own conceit, that we would only learn by actual experience of our own.
The people even of small & unimportant localities north as well as south, had reasoned themselves into the belief that their opinions were superior to the aggregated interest of the whole nation. Half our territorial nation rebelled on a doctrine of secession that they themselves now scorn, and a real numerical majority actually believed, that a little state was endowed with such sovereignty, that it could defeat the Policy of the Great Whole. I think the present war has exploded that notion, and were this war to cease now, the experience gained though dear would be worth the expense.
Another Great & important natural Truth is still in contest and can only be solved by War. Numerical majorities by vote is our Great Arbiter. Heretofore all have submitted to it in questions left open, but numerical majorities are not necessarily physical majorities. The South though numerically inferior, contend they can whip the Northern superiority of numbers, and therefore by natural Law are not bound to submit. This issue is the only real one, and in my judgement all else should be deferred to it. War alone can decide it, and it is the only question left to us as a People.
Can we whip the South? If we can, our numerical majority has both the natural and constitutional right to govern. If we cannot whip them they contend for the natural right to Select their own Government, and they have the argument. Our Armies must prevail over theirs, our officers, marshals and courts must penetrate into the innermost recesses of their Land before we have the natural right to demand their submission. I would banish all minor questions, and assert the broad doctrine that as a nation the United States has the Right and also the Physical Power to penetrate to every part of the National domain, and that we will do it—that we will do it in our own time and in our own way, that it makes no difference whether it be in one year, or two, or ten or twenty: that we will remove & destroy every obstacle, if need be take every life, every acre of land, every particle of property, every thing that to us seems proper, that we will not cease till the end is attained, that all who do not aid are enemies, and we will not account to them for our acts. If the People of the South oppose they do so at their peril, and if they stand by mere lookers on the domestic tragedy, they have no right to immunity, protection or share in the final Result.
I even believe and contend further, that in the North every member of the Nation is bound by both natural & constitutional Law to “maintain and defend the Government against all its opposers whomsoever.” If they fail to do it, they are derelict, and can be punished, or deprived of all advantage arising from the labors of those who do—If any man north or south withholds his share of taxes, or physical assistance in this crisis of our History, he could and should be deprived of all voice in the future Elections of this country and might be banished or reduced to the condition of a Denizen of the Land.
War is upon us. None can deny it. It is not the act of the Government of the United States but of a Faction. The Government was forced to accept the issue or submit to a degradation fatal & disgraceful to all the Inhabitants. In accepting war it should be pure & simple as applied to the Belligerents. I would Keep it so, till all traces of war are effaced, till those who appealed to it are sick & tired of it, and come to the emblem of our Nation and Sue for Peace. I would not coax them, or even meet them half way, but make them so sick of war that Generations would pass before they would again appeal to it.
I know what I say, when I repeat that the insurgents of the South sneer at all overtures looking to their interest. They Scorn the alliance with Copperheads: they tell me to my face that they respect Grant, McPherson and our brave associates who fight manfully & well for a principle, but despise the Copperheads & sneaks, who profess friendship for the South, and opposition to the War, as mere covers to their Knavery & poltroonery.
God knows that I deplored this fratricidal war as much as any man living, but it is upon us a physical fact; and there is only one honorable issue from it. We must fight it out, army against army, and man against man, and I know and you Know, and civilians begin to realize the fact, that reconciliation and reconstruction will be easier through and by means of strong, well equipped & organised armies than through any species of conventions that can be framed. The issues are made & all discussion is out of place and ridiculous.
The Section of 30 pounder Parrott Rifles now drilling before my tent is a more convincing argument than the largest Democratic or Union meeting the State of New York could assemble at Albany: and a simple order of the War Department to draft enough men to fill our Skeleton Regiments would be more convincing as to our national perpetuity, than an humble pardon to Jeff Davis and all his misled host.
The only Government now needed or deserved by the States of Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississipi now exists in Grants Army. It needs simply enough privates to fill its Ranks, all else will follow in due season. This army has its well defined code of Laws and Practice, and can adapt itself to the wants and necessities of a city, the country, the Rivers, the Sea, indeed to all parts of this Land. It better subserves the interest and Policy of the General Government and the People prefer it to any weak or servile combination, that would at once from force of habit revive & perpetuate local prejudices and passions. The People of this country have forfeited all Right to a voice in the Councils of the Nation. They Know it and feel it, and in after years they will be the better citizens from the dear bought experience of the present Crisis. Let them learn now, and learn it well that good citizens must obey as well as command. Obedience to law, absolute yea even abject is the lesson that this war under Providence will teach the Free & enlightened American Citizen. As a Nation we will be the better for it.
I never have apprehended Foreign Interference in our family quarrel. Of course Governments founded on a different & it may be antagonistic principle with ours, would naturally feel a pleasure at our complications: but in the end England & France will join with us in jubilation in the triumph of a Constitutional Government over Faction: even now the English manifest this. I do not profess to understand Napoleons design in Mexico, but I do not see that his taking military possession of Mexico concerns us. We have as much territory as we want. The Mexicans have failed in self Government and it was a question to what nation she would fall a prey. That is solved, and I dont see that we are damaged. We have the finest part of the North American Continent, all we can people & take care of, and if we can suppress rebellion in our Land and compose the strife generated by it, we will have people, resources & wealth which if well combined can defy interference from any and every quarter. I therefore hope the Government of the U.S. will continue as heretofore in collecting in well organized armies the physical strength of the nation, apply it as heretofore in asserting the national authority, persevering without relaxation to the end. This whether near or far off is not for us to say, but fortunately we have no choice. We must succeed. No other choice is left us but degradation.
The South must be ruled or will rule. We must conquer them or ourselves be conquered. There is no middle course.
They ask and will have nothing else, and all this talk of compromise is bosh, for we know they would even now scorn and despise the offer.
I wish this war could have been deferred for twenty years, till the superabundant population of the North could flow in and replace the losses sustained by War, but this could not be, and we are forced to take things as they arise.
All therefore I can now venture to advise is the pushing the draft to its maximum, fill the present Regiments to as large a standard as possible, and push this War, “pure and simple.”
Great attention should be paid to the discipline of our armies, for on them will be founded the future stability of our Government. The Cost of the War is of course to be considered, but finances will adjust themselves to the actual state of affairs, and even if we would, we could not change the cost. Indeed, the larger the cost now, the less will it be in the end, for the End must be attained somehow regardless of cost of Life and Treasure, and is merely a question of Time. Excuse so long a letter. With great respect your friend & servant
W. T. Sherman
Maj. Genl.