Unknown to John A. Rawlins, November 19, 1862

Memphis, November 19, 1862.

Ma). JOHN A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General, La Grange:

Srr: Inclosed is a communication of Lieut. Gen. J. C. Pemberton, Confederate Army, dated Jackson, Miss., November 12, 1862, received by me at the hands of a flag of truce night before last. I replied yesterday, and send you herewith a copy. I ought not to have answered, but the time to be consumed in referring it to you would have endangered the safety of the four men enumerated by General Pemberton. It seems he acts on orders from the Government at Richmond, and I thought proper to show him how certain retaliation by them would entail on their own prisoners certain destruction. To enable you to answer fully and conclusively, I subjoin a short history of the case.

On the 4th of September last, I sent Colonel Grierson, with a detachment of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, toward Hernando, to break up a rendezvous of guerrillas, after accomplishing which his orders were to proceed over to the Pigeon Roost road, and break up certain other parties there forming near Coldwater. He accomplished the first-named purpose, taking 10 prisoners, whom he dispatched back toward Memphis, with an escort of 15 of his men, commanded by Lieut. Nathaniel B. Cunningham. This party returned along the main road, and, when near White’s, about three-fourths of a mile south of the State line, and distant from Memphis about 13 miles, the party was fired on from ambush, and Lieutenant Cunningham and a Confederate prisoner were killed. The party was scattered, and, as soon as intelligence reached the camp of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, Captain Boicourt took a small party of 25 men and hastened to the spot. Before reaching White’s, they met a wagon coming into Memphis with the body of Lieutenant Cunningham, and learned the names of five men of the country who were engaged in the attack on this party. I subsequently sent Major Stacy, of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, with 100 men, to punish the actors. They met Captain Boicourt near White’s, and all the mention he made of the killing of White is that ‘one man was killed while running from the advance guard.” Subsequently, the mother and wife of Mr. White came to see me, and reported that, hearing the firing near their house, they went to the road, and assisted in burying the dead Confederate, and saw the body of Lieutenant Cunningham taken up by a passing wagon and carried toward Memphis ; that soon after, Captain Boicourt and party of cavalry came to the house, arrested Mr. White, represented as twenty-three years old, delicate in health, and never a guerrilla, but, on the contrary, peacefully disposed and of Union’ sentiments; but Captain Boicourt represented that he was concerned in the killing of Cunningham, mutiCuar. XXIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 871

lating his person and stripping it of money and clothing, the sight of which exasperated the men. When White was taken in custody, he was taken out through the yard, and, when near the gate, resisted, and finally attempted to escape, when he was killed, partly with blows and shots. The house of White was burned down.

Of course, I cannot approve the killing of any citizen on mere suspicion, but the firing from ambush near White’s house, and the fact that Lieutenant Cunningham was mutilated and stripped of money and clothing, were circumstances calculated to inflame the minds of soldiers. The neighborhood, too, was, and is, infamous, so that I charge the whole on the system of guerrilla warfare adopted, approved, and encouraged by the Confederate authorities. Whatever claims the family and friends of White may have on the magnanimity of our Government I would recognize, but would make no concessions to the authorities of that Government which has turned loose bands of men without uniforms—without any marks of a soldier’s calling—to do their will.

The killing of White was the natural consequence of the shooting of Lieutenant Cunningham, of which General Pemberton makes no mention. White was a citizen—not a Confederate soldier or a partisan. On what rule General Pemberton or his associates propose to retaliate on the persons of four of our soldiers, Ido not understand. Cf course, it is not for me to say what we should do should these four men suffer death, but we should demand their exchange promptly, under the cartel, and, if not accorded to, and they carry out their threats, we should make them feel our power and vengeance. Shall I not withhold all their prisoners for exchange until this threat is withdrawn? Strange that these partisans hang, kill, and shoot on any and all occasions, and yet we are threatened with retaliation for such a case as White’s. I await your instructions.

W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding.