General Sherman's role in the Civil War
Evaluate the role of General Sherman in the defeat of the Confederacy.
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a renowned general and received commendation for his outstanding command of military strategy, as well as being criticised for his harshness of the “scorched earth” policies that he implemented in conducting total war against the South. Sherman’s attitude to war and his implementation of the strategy of total war were vital in the defeat of the Confederacy.
Sherman’s attitude to the Confederate forces was a key aspect in the result of a Union Victory. Sherman admired the Southern forces and wrote in a letter to his wife in 1864, describing the Confederate forces. “The devils seem to have a determination that cannot but be admired. No amount of poverty or adversity seems to shake their faith.” Sherman’s view on the Southern spirit would play a significant role in the way Sherman attempted to overcome these forces. Sherman’s subsequent actions after his letter to his wife accentuated his belief that severe measures were necessary to break the dogged Confederate resistance.
The March to the Sea was the most destructive campaign against a civilian population during the Civil War and began in Atlanta on November 15, 1864. The movement was conducted by General Sherman and began the process of waging total annihilation on the South, which Sherman defined as “hard war”. The campaign began at the captured city of Atlanta on November 15 and ended with the capture of Port Savannah on December 21. Sherman’s forces destroyed infrastructure, industry and civilian property and disrupted the South’s economy. This disparaging nature of warfare was not unknown to Sherman as he viewed war as being cruel. In his comments at the Louisiana State Seminary on 24 December 1860 he stated, “War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a renowned general and received commendation for his outstanding command of military strategy, as well as being criticised for his harshness of the “scorched earth” policies that he implemented in conducting total war against the South. Sherman’s attitude to war and his implementation of the strategy of total war were vital in the defeat of the Confederacy.
Sherman’s attitude to the Confederate forces was a key aspect in the result of a Union Victory. Sherman admired the Southern forces and wrote in a letter to his wife in 1864, describing the Confederate forces. “The devils seem to have a determination that cannot but be admired. No amount of poverty or adversity seems to shake their faith.” Sherman’s view on the Southern spirit would play a significant role in the way Sherman attempted to overcome these forces. Sherman’s subsequent actions after his letter to his wife accentuated his belief that severe measures were necessary to break the dogged Confederate resistance.
The March to the Sea was the most destructive campaign against a civilian population during the Civil War and began in Atlanta on November 15, 1864. The movement was conducted by General Sherman and began the process of waging total annihilation on the South, which Sherman defined as “hard war”. The campaign began at the captured city of Atlanta on November 15 and ended with the capture of Port Savannah on December 21. Sherman’s forces destroyed infrastructure, industry and civilian property and disrupted the South’s economy. This disparaging nature of warfare was not unknown to Sherman as he viewed war as being cruel. In his comments at the Louisiana State Seminary on 24 December 1860 he stated, “War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The