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To: WhiskeyPapa
Come on Walt, Sherman rode through the South and burnt home after home and killed anyone that remotely looked like a Reb. "Hey look at that guy he's got an gray hat." "Shoot
em he's a Reb."
152 posted on 05/13/2003 8:12:29 AM PDT by HELLRAISER II
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To: HELLRAISER II
Walt is all hot air, spouting horse pucky.
154 posted on 05/13/2003 8:14:31 AM PDT by samuel_adams_us
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To: HELLRAISER II
Come on Walt, Sherman rode through the South and burnt home after home and killed anyone that remotely looked like a Reb.

That is simply not true. Can you name one?

And as I indicated before, Sherman favored a soft peace:

"To his delight, and probably amazement, [rebel SecWar] Breckinridge saw that Sherman went far bevond Reagan's opening proposal, and instead offered virtually everything that he had been working For in his own reconstruction plan. Indeed, the terms were practically identical to what Campbell had proposed independently to Lincoln, suggesting the common origin of both proposals in the discussions Breckinridge and Campbell held back in February and March, and that the secretary of war had pressed them hard on Sherman now. When it came to recognizing the existing state governments, Sherman did at least have before him the example of what had been started in Virginia, not knowing that Lincoln and Campbell's plan there would soon collapse, but on most of the other concessions there was no precedent. Sherman even omitted any mention of emancipation. Perhaps Breckinridge in fact did seduce Sherman in some degree, and years later Sherman himself recalled how "those fellows hustled me so that day,"

Now the proposal of universal amnesty made no exceptions for Davis and his leaders, which the day before Sherman told ]ohnston was impossible. Undoubtedly Breckinridge and Johnston appealed to Sherman's vanity in their discussions by portraying him as potentially a great peacemaker, for within hours, when he wired his terms to Grant for approval, Sherman almost boasted that his cartel constituted an absohne submission. "The terms are all on our side," he wrote his wife that afternoon: "I can hardly realize it." His work that day would "produce Peace from the Potomac to the Rio Grande."

Once the three stood agreed on the terms, Sherman and Johnston signed it and Sherman called for copies to be made for their two governments. He then he spoke to the two Confederates of Lincoln's assassination. Johnston confided to Sherman his horror at the deed, fearing it would be blamed on the Confederates, and that Lincoln might have been their greatest ally in reconstruction." Stepping outside to their now mingled escorts, they found the news generally known, as Sherman introduced the two of them to his staff, and Breckinridge and Reagan discussed it with some of their followers. The postmaster said he hoped no connection between the murdered and their cause would be found, or it should go hard for them, while Breckinridge said Lincoln's death at this time and in this manner must precipitate great calamity for them. "Gentlemen," he told them, “the South has lost its best friend." At once he wrote a message to be taken by courier to Davis, announcing the assassination and what he called the "dastardly attempt" on Seward. As soon as he got back to Goldsboro and the telegraph, he would send a wire with more details Sherman also took Breckinridge aside privately and advised him that despite the provision for universal amnesty in their agreement, he doubted that the North would allow it to apply o the civil leaders. If they could, they had all better leave the country especially Davis. Noting that there was particular hostility toward Breckinridge since, as one-time vice president, he was the highest ranking living civilian to go over to the rebellion he advised the Kentuckian to be sure to get away. Breckinridge replied that he would give the Yankees no more trouble on his own account, and that he would attempt to get Davis and himself and the rest out of the country as soon as possible.

-"An Honorable Defeat" pp.166-67 by William C. Davis

Walt

171 posted on 05/13/2003 8:25:17 AM PDT by WhiskeyPapa (Be copy now to men of grosser blood and teach them how to war!)
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