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Ironically, it was because Sherman had failed to carry out Grant's orders to destroy the Army of Tennessee, which had escaped from Atlanta into the mountains.

Sherman was also increasingly worried about his long and vulnerable supply-line - a single-track railroad that was always being blown up by Confederate cavalry.

So Sherman decided to 'exploit his limits' by turning South-east across Georgia, living off the land, conducting punitive raids on the farms, and wrecking the railroads, before liberating the blockade-runners' port of Savannah.

This had the effect of starving the Confederate armies in the field and devastating civilian morale.

It undoubtedly shortened the war by months.

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Union generals US Grant and Sherman, with President Lincoln's support did not wage "total war". In fact the term did not even exist. What military historians say is that the Union tried to destroy civilian farm goods that could be used to supply the Confederate armies. Also, in the Eastern Theater the Union waged a war against Southern armies. In the Western Theater, the Union fought over territory.And, the best military term used to describe US Grant's strategy is called a "war of exhaustion", meaning they chased down Confederate troops and denied them supplies, "exhausting" the Southern armies.

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Q: Why did Union generals US Grant and William T Sherman want to wage total war on the South?
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Continue Learning about General History

Who replaced general grant in the civil war?

No one did. Grant was in charge of all the union forces in the East, and Grant appointed William Tecumseh Sherman to the forces in the South of the Confederacy.


What generals did the North have?

The north had more of the inexperienced generals during the civil war. Most people would say that the south had many of the better, more experienced generals such as Sir. Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jeb Stewart. The north had many Generals but the three main most well known were... Gen. George Meade, Gen. Hancock and Gen. Ulysses S Grant. Ulysses S Grant was the head general. Other are William T. Sherman,George H. Thomas, Gordon Granger, & George G. Meade, Geoge McClallen was also one of the major generals of the war.


Who did William T Sherman work with?

Sherman proved to be a loyal subordinate to U.S. Grant in the early campaigns in Tennessee, and the two of them made good friends. ("He stood by me when I was mad. And I stood by him when he was drunk!") After they served together successfuly in the Vicksburg campaign and later at Chattanooga, Grant moved up to General-in-Chief and appointed Sherman as an army commander. Shrman carried enough credibility with Grant that he was allowed to reverse Grant's strategy, and ignore the Army of Tennessee as he turned East to embark on his campaign of destruction across Georgia and South Carolina.


Who were the two famous generals from the north and the south during the civil war?

The South - Robert E. Lee / North - Ulysses S. Grant .


Which general believed in the policy of total war?

Grant ordered Sheridan to destroy the farms in the Shenandoah. Then Sherman settled on a campaign of destruction across Georgia and South Carolina, to starve the Confederates into surrender. This strategy had the effect of ending the war quicker than assaulting the armies.

Related questions

Who were the top generals for the north and the south?

North George McLellan, U.S. Grant, William T. Sherman. South Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, Braxton Bragg.


Who were the top three generals for north and south?

North George McLellan, U.S. Grant, William T. Sherman. South Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, Braxton Bragg.


What are the names of the American military generals?

Some of the famous generals in the civil war were, Robert E. lee of the south and Ulysses S. grant of the north. But there were also many othere famous generals such as William Sherman and Stonewall jackson.


Who replaced general grant in the civil war?

No one did. Grant was in charge of all the union forces in the East, and Grant appointed William Tecumseh Sherman to the forces in the South of the Confederacy.


How were the military campaigns of generals Sherman and Grant different in 1864?

The military campaigns of generals Grant and Sherman were different in a few respects. For Sherman, he was not under public pressure to win battles. Grant, being top general and fighting close by in Virginia was under huge pressure to bring about results. The public knew he commanded superior numbers in troops and expected victories.Secondly, Sherman had to move slowly. He lacked water way communications and possessed one base. He also had to rebuild and fortify the railroad systems. Grant had no supply line issues and could move quickly if he wanted to. Thirdly, Sherman was correct that Robert E. Lee would find troops to send against Sherman. Grant was secure and there were few troops at hand to help Lee's Virginia defense. As the defender, however, Lee could afford to send some troops to Johnston in the south.


Who was the general of the south in the battle of Atlanta?

William Sherman Sherman was the Northern General. Hood replaced Johnston for the South.


What generals did the North have?

The north had more of the inexperienced generals during the civil war. Most people would say that the south had many of the better, more experienced generals such as Sir. Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jeb Stewart. The north had many Generals but the three main most well known were... Gen. George Meade, Gen. Hancock and Gen. Ulysses S Grant. Ulysses S Grant was the head general. Other are William T. Sherman,George H. Thomas, Gordon Granger, & George G. Meade, Geoge McClallen was also one of the major generals of the war.


Who was a victorious Union general for the civil War?

There were a few victorious Union generals in the Civil War but most people would name Ulysses S. Grant first. It is true that Grant was the leader of all the armies of the north but Phillip Sheridan and William T. Sherman were just as important if not more so. Since Grant was in charge most of the praise goes to him, but he could not have done it without all the hard work of Sheridan and Sherman!


Who is the Union general who waged total war on the south?

William T Sherman


Was William Sherman on the south side or north?

Major General William T. Sherman was a leader fighting for the North or Union side.


Who committed total war in the south?

William T. Sherman


Who waged total war on the south?

William Tecumseh Sherman.