R. R. Hutchinson to Oaptain and Assistant Adjutant-General, April 8, 1863

Camp near Vicksburg, April 8, 1863.

DEAR Sie: I received last night the copy of your answer to Mr. Knox’s application to return and reside near your headquarters. I thank you for the manner and substance of that reply. Many regard Knox as unworthy the notice he has received. Thisis true; but I send you his letter to me and my answer. Observe in his letter to me, sent long before I could have heard the result of his application to you, he makes the assertion that you had no gbjection, but rather wanted him back, and only as a matter of form required my assent. He regretted a difference between a “portion of the army and the press.” The insolence of these fellows is insupportable. I know they are encouraged, but 1 know human nature well enough, and that they will be the first to turn against their patrons. Mr. Lincoln, of course, fears to incur the enmity of the Herald, but he must rule the Herald orthe Herald will rule him; he can take his choice.

I have been foolish and unskillful in drawing on me the shafts of the press. By opposing mob law in California, I once before drew down the press ; but after the smoke cleared off, and the people saw where they were drifting to, they admitted I was right. If the press be allowed to run riot, and write up and write down at their pleasure, there is an end to a constitutional government in America, and anarchy must result. Even now the real people of our country begin to fear and tremble at it, and look to our armies as the anchor of safety, of order, submission to authority, bound together by a real Government, and not by the clamor of a demoralized press and crowd of demagogues.

As ever, your friend, W. T. SHERMAN

CAMP NEAR VICKSBURG, April 8, 1863.

Mr. HALSTED, Cincinnati : Sir: As, unhappily, I am singled out of a great mass of men who think as I do, but who have either bowed to the storm or been more

lucky in steering their barks clear of the rock of danger, I take the liberty of sending, through Mrs. Sherman, copies of a short correspondence which involves a high moral and political principle. The whole will be plain to you at a glance, and I now propose to call your attention to one phase of it, and trace the logical sequence.

Knox, acitizen, entitled to all the rights of a citizen of any and every kind, a strong, stalwart man, capable of handling a musket, comes into the camp of a major.general whom he never saw in person, conversed with, or knew anything about, in open and known violation of his orders, and, dating his matter from the headquarters of a part of this very command, publishes a string of falsehood, abusive of every servant of the Government, except a small knot of “ cunning and knowing ones bred in the same litter.” These were heroes; all else were knaves, fools, cowards, everything, and the major-general in command, with commissions from a cadet all the way up to major-general, tested by twenty years’ service in every part of this continent, who has managed all manner of business without a stain heretofore, is declared by this youngster and stranger as a mere ass, yea, insane. When called on in person to explain his motive—“ Of course, General Sherman, [ had no feeling against you personally, but you are regarded the enemy of our set, and we must in self-defense write you down.”

When a court-martial banishes him, the President of the United States, upon the personal application of this man, fortified by “ respectable persons,” sends him back, subject to a condition not dependent on me. Does Knox exhibit any sign of appreciating the real issue? He “regrets” the unhappy difference between a portion of the army and himself. The whole “press” and the sheet, the New York Herald, which he represents will appreciate the fact of my humbling myself to its agent, to my tamely submitting to its insults.

When Mr. Calhoun announced to General Jackson the doctrine of secession, did he bow to the opinion ef that respectable source and the vast array of people whom he represented? No. He answered, Secession is treason, death. Had he yielded an inch, the storm would then have swept over this country.

Had Mr. Buchanan met the seizure of our mints and arsenals in thesame spirit, he would have kept this war within the limits of actual traitors ; but, by temporizing, he gave the time and opportunity for the organization of a rebellion of half the nation. Soin this case. Theassertion of the principle that the “ press” has a right to keep paid agents in our camps, independent of the properly accredited commanders appointed by law, would, if successful, destroy any army, and the certain result would be not only an open, bold, and determined rebellion, but dissension, discord, and mutiny throughout the land and in our very camps. In this point I may be ia error, but, for the time being, I am the best judge. I am no enemy to freedom of thought, freedom of the “ press” and speech, but in all controversies there is a time when discussion must cease and action begin. That time has not only come, but has been in plain, palpable existence for two years. No amount of argument will move the rebellious. They have thrown aside the pen and taken the sword. Though slow to realize this fact, though vacillating in preparation and act, the North must do the same or perish and become the contempt of all mankind. Persons at a distance, who can look back upon the North, see, with pain and sorrow, the dissensions and vain discussions which are kept alive by a free press. In it they see the exercise of an undoubted right—the same that a man has in his own household to burn his books, destroy his furniture, abuse his family,

offend his ueighbor—and fear lest he continue in the exercise of the same glorious privilege to maintain his right to personal freedom by burning his house with all its contents.

All I propose to say is that Mr. Lincoln and the press may, in the exercise of their glorious prerogative, tear our country and armies to tatters; but they shall not insult me with impunity in my own camp.

With respect, &c., W. T. SHERMAN

RICHMOND, June 19, 1862. (Received Tupelo, June 19.) General Brace:

I am disappointed at the failure to execute my order, and fear the loss of time which has occurred may produce irreparable injury. Send General Van Dorn, with all possible dispatch, to assume command of the Department of South Mississippi and East Louisiana. He will be regarded as temporarily detached from his division.

JEFFERSON DAVIS. MERIDIAN, July 25, 1862. General VAN DORN:

Your dispatch received. Congratulate you and your command. All is well in our front. We are moving rapidly—a change of base. Act in conjunction with Price, who remains. You have the fullest confidence

JACKSON, MISss., August 25, 1862. General BRECKINRIDGE :

GENERAL: The inclosed dispatch* from General Bragg explains itself. You will not have time to reach him. Organize your division as soon as possible, and let us push on with Price. A brilliant field is before us yet. Let us start as soon as possible. Set your officers to work. We have transportation sufficient and everything necessary. I go to Vicksburg for a few days. Give any orders in my absence you may deem necessary. I have directed my staff officers to observe them.

ee EARL VAN DORN Major-General.

CHATTANOOGA, August 25, 1862.

General VAN DoRN:

Move as soon as practicable. Buell is falling back. Is now in Nashville. Price reports movement from Corinth to re-enforce Buell. Destroy them as they cross theriver. Kirby Smith is in Kentucky, moving on,Lexington. We move in a few days to sustain him or fight Buell if he stands. Morgan (Yankee) closed in at Cumberland Gap and cut off

from supplies. BRAXTON BRAGG, General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRBS. BRECKINRIDGE’S DIVISION, No. 13. } Jackson, Miss., September 5, 1862. In obedience to instructions from district headquarters, the First Brigade (Bowen’s) will move by train to Abbeville, Miss., at 2 p. m. tomorrow. g * ® a ® s 2

By command of Brig. Gen. J. S. Bowen:

Oaptain and Assistant Adjutant-General.
GENERAL rae HpQRSs. BRECKINRIDGE’S DIVISION,
No. 8. Jackson, September 7, 1862.
The remaining brigades of this division will be ready to move as soon
as possible northward by rail. The transportation will be left to follow
after, but a suitable number of quartermasters, wagon-masters, and
teamsters will be left to atten tothem. In moving, there must be perfect order, and especially no straggling or wandering from the cars, and