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Today is the anniversary of Shermans March to the sea (the beginning anyway) I was wondering what your opinion of his scorched earth policy was. was it over kill? It did accomplish what it meant to do and that was break the back of the south. But was it nescessary?
It was necessary, but it was unethical too. Sherman took the war to the Southern people. He single handedly brought man into modern warfare or Total War as it later became called. Sherman's importance in military history cannot be discounted. Sherman and Stonewall Jackson contributed much to the tactics of the German Wehrmacht in both World Wars. Ludendorf, Paulus, and Rommel all paid careful attention to rapid troop deployment and total war.
Could he have accomlished the same goal without it? His name is still mud down there. (to put it nicely)
Yes he could have accomplished his goals without it, but he was implementing the Anaconda Plan devised by General Winfield Scott. He of course took it further than I think Lincoln and Scott envisioned, but neither could argue with the results. Lincoln wanted to break the Southern will to fight, and he left the details up to his generals…..something Jeff Davis never was able to do except with Lee of course.
True, I cant see Lincoln pushing such a plan, but like you said he wasnt going to argue with the results.
As was just said, Sherman started the practice of waging war on the civilian population. In his defense, he and Grant did stand up for Lee when the politicians wanted to try Lee for treason.
One thing about Sherman is that while he could have done more to stop some of the civilian attacks he never condoned it.
I don't think that Total warfare was nrcessary. I belive he was looking strictly at shortening the war. I wonder if Lincoln didnt love it. After all he was upset with two of his best generals for being to easy. One of thse being Grant at the surrender.
There's actually a movie about Sherman's march coming out pretty soon….at least I think it's a movie, but could be a TV show. Looked pretty good from the previews.
I don't think that Total warfare was nrcessary. I belive he was looking strictly at shortening the war. I wonder if Lincoln didnt love it. After all he was upset with two of his best generals for being to easy. One of thse being Grant at the surrender.
I've never heard anyone say Lincoln was upset that Grant offered such "easy" terms. Lincoln was maligned by Republican war hawks like Thaddeus Stevens for being too lenient with the Confederate states and their leaders. It was also the main reason why Andrew Johnson was brought up on impeachment charges.
This may have been the one that I was referring to earlier. It looked very good from the previews. I remember hearing that he really didn't burn all of Atlanta….maybe about a third of it. Does anyone know if there have been any movies made on Sherman?
