Sherman: the mis-judged general of the Union

William Tecumseh Sherman is probably the most mis-judged general of the Union. Of the Civil War, really. Most people - and historians - like to think of his destructive "March to Atlanta" unnecessary and inherently evil. Why shouldn't they? I mean, he pretty much marched his army through an already dying South burning farms, pilliaging, and frightening innocent citizens. Why did he do this? Why didn't he limit his battles to the battlefield? Maybe because it wasn't working. Even though the South was obviously losing the war - most soldiers didn't have shoes by now, let alone food - they just weren't giving up. And Sherman knew if this went on for much longer, the war would never end. So, he decided that if the South wasn't going to cooperate, he was going to have to end the war himself.

"You people of the South don't know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about. War is a terrible thing!...You are bound to fail. Only in spirit and determination are you prepared for war. In all else you are totally unprepared, with a bad cause to start with. " ~ William Tecumseh Sherman

Like Grant, Sherman was convinced that the Confederacy's strategic, economic, and psycological ability to wage further war had to be definitively crushed if the fighting were to end. Therefore, he believed that the North had to conduct its compaign as a war of conquest and employ scorched earth tactics to break the backbone of the rebellion, which he called "hard war." Consuming supplies, wrecking infrastructure, and undermining morale were Sherman's stated goals. Sherman was not a man to make hasty decisions. He did not send his men into battle unless he deemed completely necessary. Thus, when they were sent into battle, his men trusted him and knew that they needed to do their best, for this was a "necessary" battle. Sherman would not have reconciled to burning Atlanta or any city for that matter, if he did not believe it was essential for ending the war. And it was. After burning Atlanta, a major supplies manufacturing city in the South, Sherman went on to Charleston, South Carolina. "This is where the war began," said Sherman, speaking of Fort Sumter, "and by God, this is where it will end!"
Initially, Sherman did not intend to burn Charelston, but his men, eager for revenge, burned it anyway - during the night. Upon hearing this news, it was too late for Sherman to do anything about it. "Well, I didn't order it," he said later, "and I didn't want it, but I sure haven't shed many tears over it."

William Tecumseh Sherman
SUMMARY
Nickname: Uncle Billy (by his troops)
Place of birth: Lancaster, Ohio - 1820
Place of death: New York City, New York - 1891
Allegiance: United States of America
Years of Service: 1840 - 84
Rank: Major General (Civil War), General of the Army of the United States (postbellum)
Commands: Army of the Tennessee (1863), Military Division of the Mississippi (1864), Commanding General of the United States Army (postbellum)
Battles: Shiloh, Viskburg Campain, Chattanooga, Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea, Carolinas Campaign
Awards: Thanks of COngress (1864 and 1865)
Other work: Bank president, lawyer, university superintendent, streetcar executive