In
1911 the United States Postmaster released a new stamp with the image of
W.T. Sherman upon it. The petition (below) to withdraw the stamp from
circulation notes that “Sherman observed the laws of civilized war only
when he had a hostile army to fear.” Without that fear of retaliation,
he waged war upon helpless women and children.
Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
"Unsurpassed Valor, Courage and Devotion to Liberty"
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"
War is Not Hell Unless a Devil Wages It:
“Petition to the Postmaster General by the Citizens of Texas:
We,
the citizens of Huntsville, Tex., respectfully petition the Postmaster
General to place on sale in this State no stamps or postal cards bearing
the likeness of W.T. Sherman. We are loyal citizens, we love our
country, we wish to forget the past differences and bitterness; but
there are two things which no true Southerner will ever forget or cease
to teach his children to remember. These are the deeds of W.T. Sherman
and the period of Reconstruction.
There
were enough brave and chivalrous Union generals in the Civil War to
furnish subjects for stamps, and we object to the face of a ruffian who
made war on women and children being placed among the faces or
Washington, Franklin, Jefferson . . . and other honorable men and forced
upon our children when we have done nothing to deserve insult.
Sherman
observed the laws of civilized warfare only when he had a hostile army
to fear. When Hood was defeated the people were helpless and
defenseless, he set his bummers upon them and boasted of it. Union
armies were not bad unless they had bad leaders. Among civilized people
war is not hell unless a devil wages it.
If
this man’s face is forced before us in this way, we shall be forced to
teach in public those lessons in history which we teach by the fireside,
even if those with goods to sell preach that all should be forgotten.
If
W.T. Sherman’s face must be held up to view, send it to those who love
his character and celebrate his victory in song, but not to those whose
homes he robbed, whose daughters he insulted, whose sons he murdered,
and whose cities and homes he burned.”
(Sherman’s Picture on U.S. Postage Stamps, Confederate Veteran, June, 1911, pg. 272)
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