for we know of no such instance ever having occurred—surely none such in the United States; and what has this helpless people done, that they should be driven from their homes, to wander as strangers, outcasts, and exiles, and to subsist on charity? We do not know, as yet, the number of people still here. Of those who are here we are satisfied a respectably number, if allowed to remain at home, could subsist for several months without assistance, and a respectable number for a much longer time, and who might not need assistance at any time. In conclusion, we most earnestly and solemnly petition you to reconsider this order, or modify it, and suffer this unfortunate people to remain at home and enjoy what little means they have. Respectfully submitted, “JAMES M. CALHOUN, Mayor. “E. E. RAWSON, } “L. C. WELLS.” } Councilmen. Here is General Sherman’s answer to the letter of Mayor Calhoun and the Councilmen of Atlanta: “HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, } IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, _September 12, 1864_. } “JAMES M. CALHOUN, _Mayor_, E. E. RAWSON _and_ S. C. WELLS, _representing City Council of Atlanta_: “GENTLEMEN: I have your letter of the 11th, in the nature of a petition to revoke my order removing all the inhabitants from Atlanta. I have read it carefully, and give full credit to your statements of the distress that will be occasioned by it, and yet shall not revoke my order, simply because my orders are not designed to meet the humanities of the case, but to prepare for the future struggle in which millions, yea, hundreds of millions of good people outside of Atlanta have a deep interest. We must have peace, not only in Atlanta, but in all America. To secure this, we must stop the war that now desolates our once happy and favored country. To stop the war, we must defeat the rebel armies that are arrayed against the laws and Constitution which all men must respect and obey. To defeat these armies, we must prepare the way to reach them in their recesses, provided with the arms and instruments which enable us to accomplish our purpose.