William T. Sherman to John C. Pemberton, November 18, 1862

Memphis, Tenn., November 18, 1862.

Lieut..Gen. J. C. PEMBER0N, Commanding Confederate Forces, Jackson, Miss. :

Sir: Your letter of November 12, dated Jackson, Miss., is before me. General Grant commands the department which embraces Memphis, and I will send him your letter, that he may answer it according to the interests and honor of the Government of the United States.

You recite the more aggravated parts of the story of Mrs. White, concerning the killing of her husband by a party of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, but you do not recite the attending circumstances.

In the early part of September last the public highway hence to Hernando was infested by a parcel of men who burned the cotton of the people and depredated on their property. A party of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry was sent to capture them, but on approach they fled and only 10 prisoners were taken. They were dispatched back toward Memphis, in charge of a lieutenant and 10 men. As this party was on the road near White’s, they were fired on from ambush. The lieutenant and the Confederate soldier at his side were killed, one or more wounded, and the party scattered. As soon as the intelligence reached the camp of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, in Memphis, Captain Boicourt started to the rescue, with a small detachment of his men. On the way out they met the dead body of the lieutenant being brought in, punctured by six balls, from which the story was started of barbarous treatment, viz, his being shot while lying on the ground. They also heard enough to connect the people of the neighborhood with this firing from ambush and mutilating their dead lieutenant, the taking of White, the accusation of his being concerned, his resistance, his attempt to escape, and all matters asserted and denied; and no one deplores more than I do that you have torn to pieces the fabric of our Government, so that such acts should ever occur, or, if they did, that they should not be promptly punished. White’s house is almost on the line between Mississippi and Tennessee, but this affair occurred on the Mississippi side of the line. If the State of Mississippi was in a condition and should make due inquiry, and demand the parties for a fair trial, there would be some appearance of law and justice; but what shadow of right you have to inquire into the matter, I don’t see.

White was not a Confederate soldier, not even a guerrilla, and some contend that he was a good Union man. I assert that his killing was unfortunate, but was the legitimate and logical sequence of the mode of warfare chosen by the Confederate Government—by means of guerrillas or partisan rangers.

Captain Boicourt has answered for his conduct to the Government of the United States, and, it may be, will to the civil authorities of Missis

Cnar. XXIX,) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 873

sippi, when peace is restored to her, but not to the Confederate Government or its officers. You now hold for retaliation four United States soldiers, whose names you say were ascertained by lot. We hold here thirty-odd wounded Confederate soldiers, left by your companions on the field of Corinth. They receive kind treatment at the hands of our surgeon. I expect a boat-load of other prisoners in a day or so from above, en route for Vicksburg, to be exchanged according to the solemn cartel made between the two contracting parties. Under the terms of that cartel, we shall expect at Vicksburg the four men you have named, and should they not be at Vicksburg, the officer in charge of your prisoners will have his orders. Our armies now occupy many Southern States; even Northern Mississippi is in our possession. Your guerrillas and partisan rangers have done deeds that I know you do not sanction. Do not make this war more vindictive and bloody than it has been, and will be, in spite of the most moderate counsels. If you think a moment, you will admit that retaliation is not the remedy for such acts as the killing of White; but the same end will be attained by regulating your guerrillas. This I know you are doing, and for it you have the thanks of your Southern Rights people, who were plundered and abused by them. General Grant commands this department, and you had better await his answer before proceeding to extremities. All I can now do is to see that the terms for the exchange of prisoners of war be faithfully executed, by your exchanging the four men you have in custody before we will send to Vicksburg any more. I am,

with great respect, your obedient servant,

Major-General.